Dodgers: David Price hits IL in tornado of roster moves

Ever since starting the season 13-2, the Los Angeles Dodgers have made a habit out of shedding important pieces by the day.

Regrettably, that trend continued on Monday following a dispiriting 8-7 loss to the San Diego Padres Sunday night.

Breakout top prospect Gavin Lux found himself activated in a rare bit of good news, but unfortunately it came as the flip side of David Price hitting the IL after leaving Sunday’s game early with a hamstring issue.

Also involved in Monday’s roster shuffle? A pitching switch, some bullpen reinforcements, and the return of Dennis Santana from another injury.

In all, Lux and Santana are healthy, pitcher Mitch White heads up from the Alternate Site, lefty Garrett Cleavinger and outfielder DJ Peters are heading back to pseudo-Triple-A, and Price is hitting the shelf.

Just a typical day at the office.

Dodgers lefty David Price hit the IL as Gavin Lux was activated.

Price had been helpfully occupying a bullpen role he likely never expected to fill when he arrived in Feb. 2020 as part of the Mookie Betts trade. Sunday’s starter Dustin May took over the fifth starter role when the team broke camp (and has looked great thus far), while Price and Tony Gonsolin (also injured) moved to the ‘pen to suss out whether they’d help in bulk or short relief.

Unfortunately, Price hasn’t been terribly dominant after opting out of 2020, allowing 14 hits in 9.2 innings before leaving his Sunday outing early with what’s been diagnosed as a Grade 2 strain.

Prior to his injury, Lux was in a much better rhythm, with two triples, five RBI and a .220 average in 13 games to open the campaign. Hopefully, he’s shaken off his wrist issue by now and can swing mostly pain-free.

He’ll be needed in the absence of fellow youngster Zach McKinstry, whose utility services would’ve gone to good use these past few games.

It didn’t take long to see his name written out in the order, either; Lux’s re-debut is set for Monday night against the Reds.

White’s name also earns a mention here, after Cleavinger allowed just one run in the top of the 11th on Sunday night, which was unfortunately good enough to take a loss and a demotion.

The 26-year-old has already thrown three shutout MLB innings in his career, all of them last season.

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