Mat Latos won’t be with the Dodgers during their three-game series in Cincinnati. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff photographer)
CINCINNATI — Pitcher Mat Latos won’t be available out of the bullpen for the Dodgers’ three-game series against the Reds. Latos went to the Dodgers’ Camelback Ranch facility in Glendale, Arizona to throw a simulated game Monday and is expected to join the team in Los Angeles. He’s scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium.
“It didn’t make any sense to fly him in here,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “He has to continue to throw then fly back to L.A. At this point we really won’t use him out of the bullpen anymore; it kind of got to the point where we really can’t use him.”
Juan Nicasio was activated from the disabled list earlier today and is available for tonight’s game. Nicasio had four scoreless outings to begin the month of August when he was sidelined by a strained muscle in the middle of his abdomen.
Mattingly indicated that Nicasio will be used similar to how he was in the past — that is, in high-leverage situations as a set-up man to closer Kenley Jansen.