Dodgers reunite with former draft pick from Lance Lynn trade in waiver claim

Entering play on Friday, the Dodgers are on a six-game losing streak and have suffered two sweeps at the hands of the Astros and the Brewers. The Brewers finale featured a late-game collapse from Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, once again emphasizing how desperate the Dodgers' pitching situation is.

In an attempt to recover a little more depth, the Dodgers claimed righty Nick Nastrini and designated Noah Davis for assignment on Friday. It's a reunion for the Dodgers and Nastrini, who was a fourth-round draft pick for LA in 2021 and topped out at No. 10 in their pipeline in 2023, before he was dealt to the White Sox along with Trayce Thompson and Jordan Leasure in exchange for Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly.

He made his MLB debut in Chicago in 2024 and pitched nine appearances (eight starts) for a 7.07 ERA before being sent down again. The White Sox DFA'ed him in late June before he'd seen a season debut, and he was picked up by the Marlins on waivers on July 1.

Miami assigned him to Triple-A after picking him up, but they let him go on July 9.

Dodgers claim former top prospect Nick Nastrini after being DFA'ed by Marlins

Nastrini pitched all of two innings in the Marlins organization in eight days before he was let go. He gave up two runs, hit three batters, and gave up four walks while only striking out one hitter, so it make sense why even the Marlins wouldn't want to hang onto him. He left the White Sox's organization with a 7.51 ERA in Triple-A over 44 1/3 innings.

He was clearly starting to struggle with the Dodgers' before they traded him; in 2023, he had a 4.03 ERA in Double-A and then a 4.22 ERA in Triple-A.

Just like any other pitcher the Dodgers randomly claim off of waivers or make a cash trade for, it's unlikely that Nastrini sticks around for long or that he lives up to the former top prospect hype. He'll go straight into the reliever carousel with Will Klein, Alexis Díaz, Julian Fernández, Jack Little, and so on and so forth, before the Dodgers can finally get Blake Treinen back (he's rehabbing in Triple-A).

The last time Davis appeared, he gave up 10 runs in 1 1/3 innings against the Astros, but if he clears waivers and returns to the organization while the Dodgers' bullpen is still hurting, we could see him in LA again.