The Dodgers made Cole Irvin the odd man out on Saturday, designating him for assignment less than 24 hours after he threw six innings at Dodger Stadium. Kyle Hurt was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City before the middle game against the Red Sox, giving the Dodgers the fresh arm they wanted and opening a 40-man roster spot at the same time.
Dave Roberts put the decision in plain terms: Cole did a great job, but the Dodgers needed to backfill an arm and some length. That is what made the move possible now. The club still had five more games before its next off day, and the trade deadline was Monday, so every roster spot carried extra value.
Irvin’s outing had done exactly what the Dodgers needed. He followed Edgardo Henriquez and Will Klein, who covered the first seven outs, and then finished the game himself, helping cover a heavy stretch for the pitching staff. But a good night did not protect him from the business of the roster. Because he has no minor league options left after using them in 2019, 2020 and 2023, the Dodgers could not simply send him down. Designating him for assignment was the only way to clear the move and keep the roster moving.
The other part of the shuffle came from the bullpen side. Will Klein was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort, and Wyatt Mills was activated on Saturday. Hurt’s recall adds another arm to a group that has already needed answers in a hurry. He had last pitched on Wednesday for Oklahoma City, has a 4.59 ERA and 3.77 xERA in 33 games for the Dodgers this season, and has struck out 39 while walking 18 in 33 1/3 innings. He also threw two scoreless innings as the 27th man in the second game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on July 19, another sign the Dodgers trust him in short bursts when the staff is stretched.
For Irvin, the day ended with a compliment and a roster designation. For the Dodgers, it brought the extra length they wanted and a bit more room to maneuver before Monday.
