Adam Liberatore to have surgery, won’t pitch until next season.

Adam Liberatore

Adam Liberatore went 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA in 58 appearances for the Dodgers this season. (Getty Images)

Dodgers pitcher Adam Liberatore is expected to undergo an arthroscopic left elbow debridement Tuesday, the team said. The procedure will be performed by team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Liberatore is expected to be ready for the 2017 season.

Bill Plunkett has the story.

Julio Urias, Josh Fields replace Adam Liberatore, Louis Coleman in bullpen.

Louis Coleman

Louis Coleman has made 50 appearances out of the Dodgers’ bullpen this season, second only to Joe Blanton. (imgur.com)

The Dodgers officially recalled Brock Stewart from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday. The right-hander will start tonight’s game in Colorado, the second start of his major league career.

While that move was expected — Stewart was in Denver with the Dodgers on Monday — a couple unexpected faces showed up before today’s game. Left-handed pitcher Julio Urias and right-handed pitcher Josh Fields will be available out of the bullpen tonight. Fields, who was acquired from the Houston Astros before Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline, will wear number 46.

Two of the Dodgers’ steadiest relievers this season are going on the 15-day disabled list: Louis Coleman with right shoulder fatigue and Adam Liberatore with left elbow inflammation.

Additionally, outfielder Andrew Toles was optioned to Triple-A along with pitcher Josh Ravin. Ravin hasn’t pitched this season while serving an 80-game performance enhancing drug suspension, which expired today.

Pitcher Clayton Kershaw was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. He isn’t eligible to be activated before August 27. That doesn’t materially affect his timetable for recovery, since Kershaw hasn’t begun a throwing program. Kershaw has a mildly herniated disc in his lower back and hasn’t pitched in a game since June.

Continue reading “Julio Urias, Josh Fields replace Adam Liberatore, Louis Coleman in bullpen.” »

Adam Liberatore (knee) is day-to-day.

Dodgers pitcher Adam Liberatore wasn’t available out of the bullpen in last night’s 3-2 win, and might not be available again today. The left-hander is battling a swollen right knee that he injured covering first base on Sunday.

Manager Dave Roberts described Liberatore as “day to day” but sounded confident that Liberatore would be able to avoid the disabled list:

Roberts said that Liberatore planned to test his knee prior to today’s game against the Rays. Until then, the manager couldn’t say for sure whether Liberatore would be available.

Liberatore has a 1.35 earned-run average in 43 appearances this season.

Some roster moves are coming after today’s game.

DENVER — Outfielder Carl Crawford and pitcher Louis Coleman will be added to the Dodgers’ roster for tomorrow’s game against the Miami Marlins. That means that two spots will have to be cleared after today’s game against the Colorado Rockies.

The Dodgers have carried eight relievers all this week, which manager Dave Roberts said would be the case prior to their road trip to Atlanta and Denver. It’s possible if not likely that this will change once the Dodgers return home. Zach Lee is an obvious candidate to return to Triple-A; I explained why in today’s notebook.

Three other relievers (Adam Liberatore, J.P. Howell and Luis Avilan) throw left-handed, and it isn’t often that a team keeps three lefties in a seven-man bullpen. Liberatore and Avilan can both be optioned to the minors. The Marlins have five left-handed hitting position players — more than most teams — so it isn’t inconceivable that Liberatore and Avilan both stay. It just seems unlikely based on precedent.

File all of this under the category of “educated guess.”