LOS ANGELES -- Baseball is a funny game. Outfielder Scott Van Slyke feels some back pain and relief pitcher Sergio Santos loses his job.
Tuesday night was a good time for Clayton Kershaw to return to form and dominate the Atlanta Braves for seven innings in what turned into a rout, because the Los Angeles Dodgers were playing with practically nobody on the bench. Juan Uribe had left the dugout after the national anthem because he was about to be traded to the other clubhouse; Van Slyke was unavailable because of what the team describes as a mild back injury and utility man Enrique Hernandez has also been in some physical discomfort, which manager Don Mattingly wouldn’t expand on.
The only fully healthy reserve was catcher Austin Barnes, recently recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Van Slyke was unavailable to start once again Wednesday, so the Dodgers recalled Chris Heisey from Triple-A to start him in right field. In need of a roster spot, they designated Santos for assignment. In order to return to Triple-A, Santos would have to clear waivers, meaning all 29 other teams passed on him. He had a 4.73 ERA in 13 1/3 innings using a fastball that averaged 92.8 mph.
Mattingly wouldn’t say whether Van Slyke is available to pinch hit Wednesday, but he said the team doesn’t think it will be a long-term concern. The Dodgers are already without outfielders Yasiel Puig (hamstring) and Carl Crawford (oblique) for the foreseeable future.
