MLB Player News

The Dodgers optioned Vanasco to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Vanasco threw two scoreless innings and struck out a batter during his MLB debut Monday, but he'll now return to Triple-A in favor of Kyle Hurt and Eduardo Salazar. Vanasco has been impressive since reaching Triple-A toward the end of last season and could return to Los Angeles later in the year.

The Dodgers optioned Ramirez to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ramirez appeared in two games after being called up on Saturday, pitching three scoreless innings while striking out one batter and walking one. He'll head back to Triple-A to make room for Kyle Hurt, who was recalled to start Tuesday's game, but Ramirez could return later in the year if the Dodgers find themselves in need of a fresh bullpen arm.

Hurt was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City and will start Tuesday against the Nationals, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Hurt has given up one earned run across 6.2 career MLB innings, and Tuesday will mark his first time starting a big-league game. The 25-year-old righty has made two starts in Triple-A this season but has only been stretched out to roughly 45 pitches, so he could struggle to work deep enough into Tuesday's outing to qualify for a win. Ryan Yarbrough is expected to serve in bulk relief once Hurt is removed from the game.

The Dodgers called up Salazar from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Salazar was in camp as a NRI and will now garner a spot on the 40-man roster, although a corresponding move in that regard has yet to be revealed. The reliever posted a 8.03 ERA in eight appearances for the Reds last season, but he was impressive at Oklahoma City early this minor-league season with a 2.87 ERA in 15.2 innings. The move comes with the Dodgers needing length for their bullpen game Tuesday versus the Nationals.

Manager Dave Roberts said that Graterol (shoulder) threw a "good" bullpen session Monday, MLB.com reports.

Graterol won't be available until around mid-May after the Dodgers initially placed him on the 15-day injured list March 19 before later transferring him to the 60-day IL, but the fact that the right-hander is already in the midst of a throwing progression suggests he should be ready to go around the time he's first eligible to return. He'll likely continue the ramp-up process with multiple bullpen sessions and live batting practice sessions over the next couple of weeks before perhaps heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment later this month or in early May.

Bird (0-1) allowed one hit and one unearned run across two-thirds of an inning Monday against the Phillies.

Bird entered the game after other high-leverage options in the Rockies bullpen, most notably Justin Lawrence. With a runner starting the frame on second base, Bird got two quick outs before allowing a single that plated the game-winning run. The Rockies have shuffled reliever roles to begin the season, but Bird still has the only save for the team. It's unclear if he is truly in the mix for saves, as he has allowed at least one earned run in three of his nine appearances and has a 1.66 WHIP with a 4:3 K:B across 9.2 innings.

Lawrence allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning Monday against the Phillies.

Lawrence entered the game in the seventh inning of a tied game to face the Nos. 6-8 hitters in the Phillies lineup. He's made six appearances on the season and entered in non-traditional closer situations in three of his last four outings. Jake Bird has the only save to this point for the Rockies, and he also pitched the 10th inning of Monday's loss.

Simpson (elbow) is expected to throw a bullpen session later this week, MLB.com reports.

Simpson opened the season on the 15-day injured list while recovering from left elbow neuritis, but he appeared in line for close to a minimum-length stay on the shelf after he was able to begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Jupiter on April 6. However, he experienced a setback during that one-inning outing and hasn't pitched since. The setback doesn't appear to be a major one given that Simpson should get back on the mound soon, but he still may be around a week away from restarting his rehab assignment.

Yarbrough could be deployed as a bulk reliever in Tuesday's game against the Nationals or work as a multi-inning option as part of a bullpen day, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

In an effort to keep rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto on his normal schedule of five days' rest between starts, the Dodgers look to set to run with a six-man rotation this week. Since Walker Buehler (elbow) won't be ready to return from the 15-day injured list until next week and after Bobby Miller (shoulder) landed on the shelf over the weekend, the Dodgers will add two new pitchers to the rotation Tuesday and Wednesday. Yarbrough last pitched Friday, but he covered just one inning in relief and should be capable of covering four or five frames Tuesday, if needed to do so. The Dodgers are also planning to call up Kyle Hurt from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday to offer some extra length, so both Yarbrough and Hurt could be called upon to cover multiple innings if Los Angeles elects to use another reliever to open the game.

Ottavino (1-0) struck out two in a perfect eighth inning Monday to record a win over the Pirates.

The veteran right-hander fired 11 pitches (nine strikes) while shutting down the heart of Pittsburgh's order and preserving a 3-3 tie, and the Mets broke the game open in the bottom half of the inning. Ottavino has had an impressive start to the season, racking up a 12:0 K:BB through seven innings with a 2.57 ERA and 0.57 WHIP, and he has two holds in addition to Monday's win as one of Edwin Diaz's primary setup men.