Top 5 call-up candidates for Dodgers' expanded September rosters

No. 2: Michael Busch

Busch has simply been too good this season in Triple-A to not give him another shot at the majors, and that is exactly what the Dodgers did when J.D. Martinez was placed on the IL with an injury. However, when Martinez returns (supposedly on the Dodgers' upcoming early September road trip), Busch's spot would likely go back to Martinez, and that is why he lands on this list.

He likely won't get sent back down to Triple-A before then, given Martinez's recovery timeline for his injury, but Busch deserves to keep hold on one of the two extra roster spots that the Dodgers can use in September. As soon as the Dodgers sent him down to Triple-A on June 27, Busch went on a ridiculous tear.

Busch slashed .324/.434/.696 in July. That slash line, which included 11 home runs, 17 walks and 26 RBI, gave him a 1.130 OPS throughout the month, and the stats continued to trend that way in August.

In August, Busch slashed .343/.432/.686 (a 1.118 OPS) with six home runs and 16 RBI in only 70 ABs, which might have played a role in J.D. Martinez being placed on the IL, as the Dodgers knew they had a viable DH option to turn to. Busch hit his first major league home run against Cleveland on Friday, and if he can hit anywhere near the level he did for the last two months in Triple-A, he’ll easily secure a spot on the September roster.

Technically, that would make Martinez, a returning All-Star, the roster expansion party crasher.