The Dodgers activated relief pitcher Luis García off the injured list Thursday after the veteran right-hander missed 25 games with a right adductor strain. He replaces Will Klein, who was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday afternoon after pitching the final two innings of Wednesday’s win.
García has a 4.50 ERA an 4.86 xERA with 23 strikeouts and 11 unintentional walks in 26 innings this season. He injured his right adductor when covering first base in the ninth inning against the Guardians on May 27. García at that time was tied for the Dodgers team lead by pitching in 26 of 55 games to that point in the season.
The right-hander pitched in one minor league rehab game, throwing a scoreless first inning with one strikeout and one hit allowed for Low-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday before joining the Dodgers on this road trip through Colorado and Kansas City.
Klein pitched twice since getting called up on Friday, totaling 3⅔ innings in his two appearances. If you’re keeping track of “why did the Dodgers option Emmet Sheehan after only one start,” his roster spot has been occupied first by Jack Little, then Klein, and now García. That extra relief spot has accounted for 5⅔ innings, pitching in three of the six games since Sheehan was optioned.