Notes: All-Star update; Mookie Betts makes strides; Ian Gibaut claimed
by Rowan Kavner
Mookie Betts and Trea Turner have moved on as the Dodgers’ finalists to the second phase of All-Star voting.
The next phase features the top two vote-getters at each position (and the next four outfielders after Ronald Acuña Jr. and Aaron Judge, who earned automatic starting spots after leading their respective leagues in voting in Phase 1) and will begin on July 5 at 9 a.m. PT.
Voting concludes at 11 a.m. PT on July 8. Winners will be announced later that night on ESPN. Vote totals from Phase 1 will reset before Phase 2. The winners will earn starting spots at the Midsummer Classic in Los Angeles.
Betts finished with the second-most votes in the National League, while Turner led all NL shortstops in voting during Phase 1.
Betts Takes Strides
Mookie Betts took batting practice, played catch and took grounders Thursday as he works his way back from a cracked rib.
Manager Dave Roberts said Betts is ahead of where the Dodgers expected, and he believes Betts could return as soon as early next week. The outfielder won’t need a rehab assignment after missing the last two weeks of action. His return will mostly be based on pain tolerance, since Roberts said the crack in Betts’ ribs is “still there.”
“There’s nothing that should potentially make it worse,” Roberts said.
Betts was taking grounders at second base Thursday and could see action there upon his return in an effort to ease the pain of longer throws. Betts, who came up as an infield prospect, played seven games at second base last season.
Price Out with Family Emergency
Left-hander Justin Bruihl was recalled Thursday while the Dodgers placed left-handed pitcher David Price on the family medical emergency list.
“I don’t want to get into detail,” Roberts said of Price’s departure. “As we understand it, everyone is OK, it’s just something that he felt he needed to be with his family. Obviously Major League Baseball granted that. We’re going to certainly miss him for three days, but Justin is here to replace him, and David will be back after three days.”
This will be Bruihl’s third stint with the Dodgers. He is 1–1 with a 3.86 ERA in 17 games this year.
Gibaut Claimed
The Dodgers claimed right-handed pitcher Ian Gibaut from the Cleveland Guardians and transferred right-handed pitcher Daniel Hudson to the 60-day injured list.
Gibaut threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings on June 27 against the Twins in his lone Major League appearance this year. He is 1–2 with a 5.19 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings over parts of four seasons in the Majors since getting drafted by the Rays in the 11th round in 2015. He was 2–0 with a 3.20 ERA at Triple-A Columbus this year.
