TAMPA, Fla. — The Dodgers were accused of overkill last winter when they signed both Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates as free agents.
Yates joined Scott on the injured list on Friday, officially with lower back pain. But Dodgers manager Dave Roberts described Yates’ issue as something “we’re trying to figure out.” Yates returned to Los Angeles to be examined.
“In the last, call it two weeks, he hasn’t felt great, hasn’t been injured in his words, which is why he kept pitching and competing,” Roberts said.
“Something is just not right, exactly. So we’re trying to suss that out.”
The 38-year-old Yates spent time on the IL during May with a hamstring injury. In 17 appearances since returning, he had a 4.26 ERA and 11 hits (including three home runs) allowed in 12⅔ innings.
“You look at the fastball, the velocity, all that stuff has been good, but the split has been nonexistent,” Roberts said of Yates’ signature pitch.
Replacing Yates in the Dodgers’ bullpen are Brock Stewart and Paul Gervase, right-handers acquired in deals before Thursday’s trade deadline.
Stewart joins the Dodgers for the third time. He spent 2016 through 2019 as a swingman shuttling between Triple-A and the majors. He re-signed with the Dodgers in 2021 but spent the year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
This time, he returns after re-inventing himself as a solid setup man with the Minnesota Twins.
“Love Brock, the person, the player. He’s really come into his own right now. Excited to get him back,” Roberts said.
“He was a prospect when we had him. Gets up here and he’s trying to start, spot start. He’s up and down. Took it like a pro. And then at the end he lost the velocity and was trying to figure out if he could hang on and who he was at that point. Obviously he’s put in a ton of work to sort of find himself again. He’s had nothing but success. I’m excited to see this version of him.”
VIRTUAL CALL
Both Roberts and Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes described new man in the outfield, Alex Call, as a “tough, feisty hitter” who “grinds” at-bats. Call made himself that way.
“There was a point in time where I was in Double-A (in the Cleveland Guardians’ system), I hit .200 in Akron, I think this was 2019, and struck out near 30% (93 times in 293 at-bats),” Call said. “That just wasn’t gonna get it done. The type of player that I am, I can hit the ball over the fence, but it’s not really my full game. And so for me, it was about trying to create as many opportunities to get on base as possible.”
Call invested in an Oculus virtual reality headset and went to work on remaking his game. Now, being a difficult at-bat “is my whole game.”
“I am going to grind out at-bats, put the ball in play, take my walks, make it tough on the pitcher, lengthen out the lineup,” he said. “Just really make the guys work so that hopefully they’re tired when the top of the order comes back around or whatever.”
The Dodgers have heavily invested in the most cutting-edge VR technology, including Trajekt pitching machines that can mimic the pitches of any pitcher in the major leagues. They have machines at Dodger Stadium and at Camelback Ranch in Arizona.
“I figured. I had a hunch,” Call said. “I actually don’t know the full extent. So when I get back to L.A., it’ll be really fun, because I’ve just kind of been grinding with my own headset.
“I’ll definitely take advantage of all the resources. I love the technology and things like that.”
OHTANI STATUS
Shohei Ohtani reported no ill effects from the cramping that caused him to leave the mound during the fourth inning of his pitching start in Cincinnati on Wednesday. He was in the lineup at DH on Friday night and is on track to make his next pitching start next Wednesday at home as scheduled.
“We expect him in there,” Roberts said. “I talked to him briefly today. He says he feels good.
“I see him going four innings. We won’t be in humidity, he’s going to have seven days (between starts). So I don’t see how he wouldn’t get through four on Wednesday. That’s the plan.”
REHAB ROUNDUP
After taking Thursday off, Max Muncy was back in the Triple-A Oklahoma City lineup Friday night. The third baseman is expected to continue his rehab assignment (bone bruise, knee) through the weekend then join the Dodgers in Los Angeles next week.
“He’ll play through the weekend, and we’ll see where he’s at,” Roberts said. “Early next week is my hope that we get him back still.”
Meanwhile, right-hander Roki Sasaki started throwing to hitters this week at the Dodgers’ training complex in Arizona. He is scheduled to throw two innings of live batting practice on Saturday.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (LHP Blake Snell, 1-0, 2.00 ERA) at Rays (RHP Drew Rasmussen, 8-5, 2.96 ERA), Saturday, 10:10 a.m. PT, SportsNet LA, 570 AM