The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up reliever Seth Holversen, The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya reports. The team has not yet confirmed the move.
Halvorsen, 26, was acquired from the Colorado Rockies two weeks before the MLB trade deadline. He had been on the injured list for right shoulder inflammation and was on a minor-league rehab assignment when he was traded. With the Dodgers’ Triple-A Oklahoma City affiliate, he notched 8 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings with no runs and four hits allowed.
In 21 appearances for Colorado this season, Halvorsen recorded a 4.74 ERA with 17 strikeouts and 15 walks in 19 innings. But he routinely hits 100 mph with his fastball, which is likely why the Rockies and Dodgers are willing to overlook his control issues.
Walks have been an issue during Halvorsen’s three MLB seasons with 38 in 71 career innings, an average of 4.9 per nine frames.
The assumption might be that Halvorsen would benefit from not having to pitch so often at Coors Field. However, he actually pitched better there (3.40 ERA) than on the road (5.46) during his career.
Despite the Dodgers holding an 7.5-game first-place lead in the NL West and the fourth-best record in MLB at 70-48, their bullpen is a weakness on the current roster which is why they added Halvorsen.
Dodgers relievers have a collective 4.01 ERA, which is roughly in the middle of the pack among MLB teams. Every time manager Dave Roberts goes to his bullpen, he risks squandering the efforts of the team’s starters, whose team ERA of 3.54 is second-best in MLB. (Overall, the Dodgers’ 3.42 ERA ranks third in baseball.)
Closer Edwin Díaz might be a particular cause for concern with 3 blown saves in 8 opportunities — in addition to 12 runs and 17 hits in 10 innings, resulting in a 10.80 ERA. Díaz underwent surgery in April to remove loose bodies in his right elbow and was sidelined for three months while recovering.
In five appearances since returning, he has allowed 4 runs and 6 hits (two of them home runs) in 3 innings for a 12.00 ERA.
Halvorsen won’t take over as the Dodgers’ closer, not with those control issues. But if he’s able to pitch well in middle innings, that deepens the depth of the bullpen. Roberts can then use his best relievers like Tanner Scott, Alex Vesla and Jack Dreyer in late-inning, high-leverage situations.
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