Dodgers activate injured reliever to aid bullpen and make corresponding roster move

Dodgers reliever Luis García was a surprise standout from spring training after signing a minor league deal in the offseason. Early injuries to some bullpen arms including Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, and Brusdar Graterol gave García the opportunity to make an impression and land on the Opening Day roster. He did so alongside rookie Jack Dreyer, and both became mainstays of the Dodgers' bullpen through the first couple months of the season.

However, García wasn't immune to the Dodgers' injury bug, and he went down with an adductor strain on June 1, retroactive to May 29. The Dodgers had been cycling out some minor-league signings or waiver claims into the bullpen, but García's injury led to a full-blown carousel. Noah Davis came up in García's place, and a handful of other names you probably don't remember have been up and down in the meantime.

On Thursday, the Dodgers activated García after a brief rehab assignment in Single-A. In turn, they optioned Will Klein, acquired in a small-time trade with the Mariners that sent Joe Jacques to Seattle and another frequent traveler of the revolving door between Oklahoma City and Triple-A.

Dodgers activate Luis García from IL after adductor strain, option Will Klein to Triple-A

Before going onto the IL, García had a 4.50 ERA through 26 innings. It wasn't great, but he was a decent bet to be handed the ball in the later innings when the Dodgers had a comfortable lead (or were losing badly).

Klein has already been up and down a few times by now, but has only been given the ball for 3 2/3 frames. They've been scoreless, but it's hard to entrust too much responsibility to a guy who had a 7.17 ERA in Triple-A before he was traded to LA.

García may still be an easy casualty if the Dodgers upgrade the bullpen at the trade deadline. He's been good enough, but it's a major area to target for improvement by the end of July. Until then, though, he'll add some extra reassurance for the pitching staff. Relievers have more or less mellowed out with injuries as of late, so they just need to hold themselves together for a month before the Dodgers make a push to trade for more reinforcements.

If García can make himself look indispensable before then, then he may have a chance of surviving the inevitable roster crunch.