ATLANTA — Adam Liberatore‘s major league career began with the Dodgers in April. The left-handed reliever threw 9 ⅔ innings before allowing a run. His earned-run average in 26 games since then is 6.61, and 11 of the last 21 batters Liberatore has faced have reached base.
Despite this, Liberatore might still be on the Dodgers’ 25-man roster today if the team didn’t need a long reliever so badly. Left-hander Ian Thomas was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City, swapping roster spots with Liberatore.
Liberatore had been on the 25-man roster since April 27.
Thomas has thrown up to six innings at the Triple-A level this year, and up to three innings for the Dodgers. He’s allowed four earned runs in five major league innings since the Dodgers acquired him in the trade that sent Juan Uribe to Atlanta.
The move comes one day after the Dodgers’ bullpen pitched 5 ⅓ innings in a 4-3 loss to the Braves. The day before, the Dodgers’ bullpen threw four innings.
Liberatore was a situational reliever with a power arm, the left-handed equivalent of Pedro Baez.
Thomas has amassed more frequent flier miles than this guy shuffling between Triple-A and the majors since the year began. He isn’t seen as a long-term 25-man roster candidate and could be ticketed back for the minors by the time Clayton Kershaw is on the mound Thursday against the New York Mets.
