MILWAUKEE -- Dodgers traveling secretary Scott Akasaki has been a very, very busy man this season.
By one reporter’s count, Los Angeles had made 55 different roster moves heading into Thursday’s series finale at Milwaukee and the Dodgers made another before the game, shipping right-hander Joe Wieland, who started and took the loss Wednesday, back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Outfielder Chris Heisey, who was designated for assignment April 23 and outrighted to Oklahoma City on April 24, was recalled, and joined the Dodgers in Milwaukee on Thursday.
Most of the moves this season have involved pitchers. Of the nine Los Angeles players currently on the disabled list, six are pitchers, including starters Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Those injuries have left a hole at the back end of manager Don Mattingly’s starting rotation, which he’s filled by mixing and matching different players from the system.
“The benefit [is] I have been able to use that basically as the fifth-starter spot, to either have an extra player or extra bullpen piece,” Mattingly said. “It allows you basically, hopefully, to keep guys rested, protect the guys that you want to protect.”
The Dodgers have used nine different starting pitchers this season.
Puig to start rehab: Outfielder Yasiel Puig reported no problems after taking part in baserunning drills Wednesday at Dodger Stadium and will begin a minor league rehab assignment today at High-A Rancho Cucamongo.
“He’s DH-ing tonight and if everything keeps going well, he’ll play tomorrow and the next day,” Mattingly said.
Assuming Puig continues to show progress, he’ll move to the outfield sometime this weekend.
Puig has been out since April 26 with a sore left hamstring.
Day of rest: Mattingly said Wednesday he’d start giving his regulars some time off as the Dodgers continue a stretch of 17 games in as many days.
True to his word, third baseman Justin Turner, shortstop Jimmy Rollins and left fielder Scott Van Slyke were not in the lineup against the Brewers.
They were replaced by Juan Uribe, Enrique Hernandez and Alex Guerrero, respectively.
