Sources: Yasiel Puig recalled, will rejoin Dodgers on Friday
LOS ANGELES -- Not only is Clayton Kershaw set to begin a minor league rehab assignment this weekend, but outfielder Yasiel Puig is on his way back to the major leagues.
Puig has been called up and will be with the Dodgers on Friday if travel goes well, sources told ESPN's Buster Olney.
With major league rosters expanding to 40 on Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgershave recalled Puig from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
On Wednesday, Dodgers managerDave Roberts saidAustin Barnes, Louis Coleman, Luis Avilan and Josh Ravin would be added immediately to the expanded roster this week. Roberts was unsure about Puig, who was demoted Aug. 2, one day after the club acquired outfielder Josh Reddick from the Oakland Athletics.
"We're still trying to figure out what is best for Yasiel," Roberts said Wednesday. "Those are the names that initially will be here, but with Yasiel, that is still a possibility. But we're still trying to figure out what is best for him and what is best for us."
It might not have taken long for the Dodgers' top brass to realize a right-handed bat such as Puig's is exactly what the team needs. The Dodgers have struggled against left-handed pitching this season and were nearly no-hit by San Francisco Giants lefty Matt Moore last week.
Through Thursday's games, the Dodgers were last in the National League against left-handers in batting average (.218), on-base percentage (.297) and slugging percentage (.340).
Puig is hitting .348 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in his Triple-A stint.
Meanwhile, Kershaw is headed to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga to continue his rehabilitation process from a back injury that has sidelined him since June 26, according to team president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
Kershaw is expected to throw around 60 pitches and four or five innings for the Quakes, after throwing a two-inning simulated game earlier this week at Dodger Stadium. It was not specified what day Kershaw will pitch for Rancho Cucamonga.
It is possible that Kershaw could return to the Dodgers on the next road trip, which starts Sept. 9 at Miami.
