LOS ANGELES — The placards on the clubhouse lockers have changed at a rapid pace this week, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts invoking even more names Wednesday.
Roberts’ list of available players was different in every game in this series against the Washington Nationals. The latest roster adjustment came not long before first pitch Wednesday when right-hander Landon Knack was activated to make the start in his MLB debut.
On Monday, right-hander Ricky Vanasco was called up and he made his major-league debut that night. On Tuesday, outfielder Andy Pages was recalled to make his own debut. Right-hander Kyle Hurt also was welcomed into the door with Pages and made his first career start that night.
In yet another transaction Tuesday, right-hander Eduardo Salazar was called up but he went down before Wednesday’s game to make room for Knack without ever making an appearance.
When asked about the luxury of being able to draw from a rich pool of talent in the system, Roberts did a quick pivot to those who have done the due diligence to gather and nurture so much talent.
Roberts gave a shout-out to Billy Gasparino, the vice president of baseball operations, William Rhymes, vice president of player development, and Matt McGrath, director of player development. There was a nod to all of the minor-league coaches.
“We’re finding and developing, finding a lot of players that are coming,” Roberts said. “(Tuesday) with Andy (Pages), (Wednesday) with Landon, this is a good time for the Dodger organization.”
Pages was merely the third-best prospect in the organization when he was recalled Tuesday, according to MLB.com. The top prospect is catcher/first baseman Dalton Rushing, who is off to a fast start at Double-A Tulsa.
“I think that the whole narrative of how we spend overall on payroll gets lost when you’re talking about how we can backfill with farm-grown, homegrown players,” Roberts said. “This has been a good week for us.”
BET ON BETTS
Already an MVP in 2018 who later guided the Dodgers to the World Series in 2020 during his first season in Los Angeles, Mookie Betts might be better than ever now at age 31.
That was Roberts’ assessment a day after Betts became the first player this season to record a five-hit game.
“This is another level for me, really,” Roberts said.
Betts entered Wednesday’s game leading baseball in a number of categories – batting average (.388), hits (31) and runs (22) – and was tied for the MLB lead with 16 walks. He also led the National League with a 1.190 OPS.
“As far as mentally, physically, he’s in a great spot,” said Roberts, who again lauded Betts’ ability to perform at a high level offensively while moving full time to the infield. “I do feel that the (offensive downturns) are going to be much more minimized this year.”
HERE AND THERE
The Dodgers love their versatile players and are not afraid to ask even the young ones to wear multiple hats. One day after Pages made his major-league debut in center field, he was the starter in right field Wednesday.
Related Articles
Mookie Betts fuels another Dodgers win with 5-hit game
Recovered from shoulder surgery, Andy Pages gets call from Dodgers
Carl Erskine, Dodgers pitcher and last surviving member of ‘Boys of Summer,’ dies at 97
Tyler Glasnow roughed up as Dodgers lose to Nationals
Dodgers’ Emmet Sheehan’s immediate future uncertain with forearm injury
Teoscar Hernandez has made the most starts in right field with 16, but started in left field Wednesday for the fifth time.
Pages’ move to right, with James Outman starting in center field, allowed the Dodgers to sit Chris Taylor, who entered Wednesday hitless in 30 at-bats over the previous 11 games.
UP NEXT
The Dodgers are off Thursday.
Mets (LH Sean Manaea, 1-1, 4.30 ERA) vs. Dodgers (RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 1-1, 4.50), 7:10 p.m. Friday, SportsNet LA, 570 AM