Just a day after the Dodgers announced left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels‘ season was over without throwing a single pitch, the Dodgers signed another veteran pitcher with solid previous credentials.
It has been reported that the Dodgers are signing 32-year-old right-handed reliever Shane Greene to a major league deal. Greene was an All-Star closer with the Tigers in 2019, but with the Braves this season he’s struggled quite a bit. His ERA is 8.47 over 17 innings, which caused the Braves to release him. He also carries a WHIP of 1.824.
Greene is expected to join the Dodgers this weekend against the Mets.
The signing comes after a game the Dodgers called up their seventh best-ranked prospect (according to Baseball America) in right-handed pitcher Andre Jackson. Jackson in his major league debut looked quite nice; he went four innings striking out five, but did walk four although he kept the Pirates scoreless. The Dodgers also used an opener in left-hander Justin Bruihl.
Over the past few days, the Dodgers have added two bullpen arms, as they claimed right-hander Evan Phillips off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays. Phillips was designated for assignment by the Rays on Saturday, just one day after he recorded a three-inning save for his team. In his major league career, Phillips is 1-3 and has posted a 7.26 ERA throughout four years.
With the luck the Dodgers have regarding injuries, you can never have too many pitchers. The Dodgers have remained active in the market well after the trade deadline, signing several players. Phil Bickford, who was picked up from waivers earlier this year, has been one of the most consistent relievers on the club.
Unfortunately, Dodger fans will not be able to see the veteran Hamels in Dodger Blue, as yesterday the team announced he would be placed on the 60-day injured list after he suffered arm pain during a simulated inning. The Dodgers were hoping Hamels would join the team later in the season, but that is the risk when you sign an aging pitcher with injury problems. At the end of the day, the Dodgers will have paid Hamels one million dollars to throw exactly zero pitches for them.
As of now the Dodgers only have three healthy starting pitchers in Max Scherzer, Walker Buehler, and David Price.
Julio Urias, who is tied for the most wins in the league at 13, was the latest Dodger pitcher to be placed on the injured list, joining Tony Gonsolin and Clayton Kershaw, as well as Danny Duffy. Dustin May was lost for the season after undergoing UCL surgery earlier in the year.
The Dodgers hope that one of their healthy starting pitchers will be able to eat up a couple of innings on Tuesday in the form of Price. In his last start, Price went four innings against the Phillies, and before that, he had pitched 5-⅓ innings so the Dodgers will hope for something similar.
Price has posted a 4-1 record with a 3.60 ERA in different pitching roles this season. The Dodgers will face Pittsburgh right-hander Wil Crowe who is 3-7 with a 5.27 ERA.
Tuesday’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. Pacific.
Think Blue Planning Committee 
Jackson survived his debut even though he was not able to throw his fastball or slider for a strike. The only pitch he was able to control was his change. That he survived that long with one pitch going for him shows he may be a viable major league pitcher if he can control his other pitchers. I imagine with 50 family and friends in the stands and being his MLB debut he was very nervous.
McKinney had a big day throwing out a runner at third and hitting a HR.
Curious about the Greene signing. Do the Dodgers think they have seen a flaw in his mechanics?
Vesia has figured it out.
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I wonder if AF was able to insert a clause in Hamels’ contract that they didn’t have to pay the full amount if he failed to even make his first appearance due to health issues. Maybe the players’ association wouldn’t allow that to be put into a contract, but if I were Andrew I certainly would have tried.
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This is beyond ridiculous. I keep asking myself how in the world are thay near the top of the league. No shortstop for much if the year, no second baseman, no centerfielder, no right fielder for much if the year, half their rotation, and virtually no bullpen, and a half dozen dfa’d players in lieu of a non existing farm system. How is this even possible. Not very impressed with Jackson but he git through 4 innings unscathed, which no one else seems capable of.
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When Hamel was signed, I commented it would be inconsequential. Waste of $1M, butI guess you win some and lose some. I was happy they didn’t beat out Padres for Arrieta. Would rather a farm guy get his shot.
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I always want to see Farm kids given a shot. I agree Jackson wasn’t impressive but he couldn’t throw his other pitches for strikes but managed to get through.
I also look at the Dodger record and I am amazed at their record with all the injuries.
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The bottom line, they won. I do not care who they sign or bring in as long as they are effective. Nunez was not, so he is back at AAA. Jackson held serve, which is exactly what they needed. He did not need to impress, he needed to keep a very bad team off of the scoreboard and he accomplished that. Now go back to OKC and learn some more. Greene has been bad this year, but he has a track record of success and maybe they spotted a flaw in his delivery and feel they can fix it. They saw something in Tsutsugo, but he did not do anything until after he had been at AAA a while. But there was no spot for him in LA. Lux has the tools to be a good third baseman, he just has a Steve Sax complex throwing the ball.
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