Report: Dodgers will call up Eovaldi
The Los Angeles Dodgers will recall right-hander Nathan Eovaldi from Class AA Chattanooga before Friday's game with the Nationals, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported Thursday.
Eovaldi, 22, was pulled from his start with Chattanooga after just one inning Wednesday amid speculation that a Dodgers pitcher is ailing. Mike MacDougal has been sick, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Eovaldi was also pulled from a start after one inning April 19 as a precaution when Chad Billingsley was experiencing issues with his groin. Billingsley is healthy now, however, and he's expected to start for the Dodgers on Saturday.
In four Class AA starts this season, Eovaldi is 0-0 with a 2.08 ERA.
When asked Wednesday night if there were an injury on his pitching staff, manager Don Mattingly said yes, but he declined further comment on Eovaldi's status.
Eovaldi was 1-2 with a 3.63 ERA in 10 games, including six starts, for the Dodgers in 2011. An 11th-round draft pick in 2008, Eovaldi is essentially the sixth man on the starting depth chart, which makes it curious that he would be recalled to pitch in relief.
Mattingly said in spring training he would prefer to have Eovaldi start but that situations would dictate his role.
"It will probably depend on how he's throwing, and if he's really coming along as a starter, I think we would be a little more hesitant to kick him into a different role," Mattingly said.
