The Dodgers made a bunch of roster moves before Monday’s game against the Rockies, and the big one is Evan Phillips is finally back. He’s been working his way back from Tommy John surgery for a while now, and the team activated him off the injured list before first pitch.
Phillips gives the bullpen something it’s been missing — a reliable arm who can handle high-leverage situations. The Dodgers have been piecing things together in the middle innings all season, and while they’ve gotten by, having a guy like Phillips who already knows what it’s like to pitch in October? That changes things. He’s not going to be thrown right into the fire immediately, but the plan is to work him into high-pressure spots as he gets his legs under him.
Carlos Duran gets added, a catcher gets cut
The other move that might fly under the radar is the Dodgers adding right-hander Carlos Duran to the 40-man roster. Duran has been pitching at Triple-A Oklahoma City and has solid numbers — 3.86 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 35 innings. He throws hard and the organization clearly wants to keep him around. To make room, they designated catcher Chuckie Robinson for assignment. Robinson was up for a cup of coffee but never really locked into a role.
The team announced the moves on X (still feels weird to say that) and followed up with a second post detailing the Phillips activation. That meant sending Paul Gervase back to Triple-A and releasing lefty Jake Eder to clear a 40-man spot.
What this all means for the pitching staff
The Dodgers are in that part of the season where the front office is constantly shuffling pieces. Phillips is the headline here because he’s a known commodity. If he’s anywhere close to what he was before the surgery, that’s a big win for a team that has leaned on younger arms out of necessity. Duran is more of a long-term play. He’s got the stuff to help this year but they’re not rushing him into a defined role.
Releasing Eder and optioning Gervase aren’t huge shocks. Eder was a lottery ticket who didn’t pan out and Gervase needs more consistent innings. The Dodgers are deep enough to absorb those losses.
Phillips is the guy to watch. If he’s sharp in his first few outings, the bullpen suddenly looks a lot different than it did a week ago. And with the Rockies in town for three games, it’s a decent spot to ease him in.
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