Scott Kazmir, Chris Taylor and Brandon McCarthy are about to give the Dodgers a full active roster.

Scott Kazmir was activated from the 15-day disabled list, and Chris Taylor was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City, giving the Dodgers 39 players on their active roster for tonight’s game against the Colorado Rockies.

The 40th man, pitcher Brandon McCarthy, is on the 15-day disabled list. He threw a 75-pitch simulated game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday. This afternoon, McCarthy threw a bullpen session and manager Dave Roberts said he will be activated from the DL before the regular season ends a week from Sunday.

That means the Dodgers will have a full complement of 40 players on the active roster. That’s a rarity in September, and perhaps the Dodgers will be unique in that regard in MLB.

In any event, it will be a logistical nightmare if all 40 players are asked to fit inside the visiting clubhouses in San Diego and San Francisco, where the Dodgers end the season next week.

Alex Wood won’t be activated tonight after all.

Alex Wood

Alex Wood posted a 3.99 ERA in 10 starts for the Dodgers this season. He hasn’t pitched since May because of an elbow injury. (Associated Press photo)

In recent days, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said pitcher Alex Wood was on track to be activated from the disabled list today. Wood said himself that would be the case just this afternoon.

Then, a few minutes later, when Roberts addressed reporters in the third-base dugout, he dropped a surprise by saying Wood will be activated tomorrow instead.

“We decided to wait another day,” Roberts said. “He’ll be activated tomorrow. We have to make, obviously, a roster move, and we haven’t decided which direction we’re going to go.”

Continue reading “Alex Wood won’t be activated tonight after all.” »

Micah Johnson will be activated for tonight’s game against the San Francisco Giants.

Micah Johnson

Micah Johnson Micah Johnson went 15 for 40 (.375) with eight steals in nine attempts during the Oklahoma City Dodgers’ playoff run. (Getty Images)

The Dodgers will activate second baseman/outfielder Micah Johnson for tonight’s game against the San Francisco Giants, bringing the number of players on their active roster to 36.

Johnson had a productive postseason at the plate and on the bases for Triple-A Oklahoma City. In nine Pacific Coast League playoff games, he batted .375 (15 for 40), scored 10 runs, and went 8 for 9 in stolen base attempts. The 25-year-old slashed .261/.321/.356 in the regular season at Triple-A. He appeared in two major league games in his first season as a Dodger, going 0 for 3.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts talked about using Johnson “off the bench for a speed guy that can steal a base, maybe a bat off the bench.”

Johnson saw time at second base, center field, left field and third base (in that order) at Triple-A.

Roberts made no mention of infielder Chris Taylor, the only other player on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster who isn’t with the team. Pitchers Brandon McCarthy, Scott Kazmir and Brett Anderson are on the 15-day disabled list and therefore inactive.

Scott Van Slyke goes on the disabled list, hoping to avoid season-ending surgery.

Scott Van Slyke

Scott Van Slyke already missed 49 games earlier this season with a back injury. (Getty Images)

The Dodgers placed Scott Van Slyke on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with what the team called inflammation in his right wrist. The first baseman/outfielder said this injury is related to the wrist injury that bothered him last season.

Chris Taylor was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take the roster spot of Van Slyke, who is batting .225 in 52 games this season.

Van Slyke also spent time on the disabled list earlier this year with a mid-back ailment. The Dodgers have placed 26 different players on the disabled list this season, believed to be one shy of the major league record.

The more Van Slyke spoke of his latest injury, the more trivial the DL record seemed.

“I’ve never not noticed it,” he said. “Since last year, I know I’ve lost range of motion. I’ve known it wasn’t normal.”

Continue reading “Scott Van Slyke goes on the disabled list, hoping to avoid season-ending surgery.” »

The Dodgers believe Yimi Garcia’s 2016 season is over.

Yimi Garcia

Yimi Garcia is on the 60-day disabled list with a strained right biceps muscle. (John McCoy/Staff photographer)

When Rob Segedin had a locker in Dodger Stadium on Sunday, Yimi Garcia did not for the first time all year.

Garcia hasn’t pitched for the Dodgers since developing soreness in his right biceps on April 22 in Colorado. He made six minor league rehab appearances in July, none since he experienced a setback on July 29.

Sunday, manager Dave Roberts said the setback is expected to cost Garcia the rest of the season.

Continue reading “The Dodgers believe Yimi Garcia’s 2016 season is over.” »