Espinal returns as Dodgers shuffle for Phillies game

Dodgers shuffle – With Teoscar Hernández and Kiké Hernández sidelined, the Dodgers recalled Ryan Ward from Triple-A Oklahoma City, sent Hyeseong Kim to Triple-A, re-signed Santiago Espinal, and moved Blake Snell to the 60-day injured list to open space on the 40-man roster ahea

Los Angeles didn’t just lose a starter on the injured list ahead of Friday night’s game against the Phillies. The injury created a chain reaction—one that reshaped the bench, decided who gets daily at-bats, and changed what the Dodgers can physically carry into a lineup built around matchups.

The starting left fielder Teoscar Hernández went to the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. and the Dodgers responded with a flurry of roster moves. They recalled outfielder/first baseman Ryan Ward from Triple-A Oklahoma City as the corresponding move. Then they optioned infielder Hyeseong Kim to Triple-A.

At the same time, the Dodgers re-signed utility man Santiago Espinal and transferred left-hander Blake Snell to the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the 40-man roster.

Kim’s spot had been slipping. Over the past week. his playing time was becoming tenuous with second baseman Alex Freeland set to take over more of his workload after being recalled when Kiké Hernández was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain on Wednesday. Instead of giving Kim only limited opportunities. the Dodgers chose to send him to Oklahoma City so he can work through issues with his swing every day.

General manager Brandon Gomes explained the intention plainly: “Get his swing back to where it was when he first came up.” He said there are “some stuff” in Kim’s setup. and that it has drifted toward “like what we saw last year.” Gomes pointed to the early-season work in Triple-A and the belief that the hitting group there created real progress: Kim had done “some really good work with our hitting guys down in Triple-A.” The plan now is to build a group approach again. “So our guys are going to get together as a group and put together a plan and … hopefully get him back to where he was earlier in the season.”.

The injuries didn’t just take bodies away—they narrowed the Dodgers’ options. With both Hernándezes on the injured list. manager Dave Roberts said the path was there for how playing time would shake out. When Freeland was recalled. Roberts said he would likely see the bulk of the playing time against right-handed pitching at second base. a role Kim had previously filled. Recalling Ward also made the bench heavy on left-handed hitters.

And when Kiké Hernández was sidelined again, the Dodgers lost the only true infielder/outfielder they had on the roster.

Espinal’s return is the response to that reality. He brings another right-handed bat to the bench. and he can play all over the infield as well as corner outfield spots. Roberts framed him as a stabilizing presence rather than a developmental stopgap—“a true 26th man”—after Espinal had been designated for assignment. cleared waivers. elected free agency. and then re-signed with Los Angeles.

“With a star-studded team, you also have to have guys that know their roles,” Roberts said. He described Espinal’s value in straightforward terms: “Espy is a guy that is good on the team. understands his value. he’s ready when called upon. I trust him defensively and I like him vs. left-handed pitching.” Roberts emphasized how seamless the roster shift is supposed to feel: “Just having him back is pretty seamless because we lost him for a couple days. It’s like no time has passed. It’s good to have him back.”.

On the pitching side, Blake Snell’s move to the 60-day injured list was expected. He is rehabbing from surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. The Dodgers said he had the NanoNeedle Scope procedure. the same one used for Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. who progressed to throwing a simulated game about three weeks after surgery.

But the timetable isn’t identical. Unlike Skubal, Snell is not an impending free agent, so there is less pressure to force a faster return. The priority for Los Angeles is having Snell at his best in the postseason.

Taken together, the roster moves show a clear message: the Dodgers aren’t just filling holes for one game. They’re trying to protect matchups, preserve bench function, and keep their longer-term postseason plans intact while dealing with the immediate weight of the Hernández injuries.

Los Angeles Dodgers Phillies Teoscar Hernández Hyeseong Kim Ryan Ward Santiago Espinal Blake Snell 60-day injured list 10-day injured list Brandon Gomes Dave Roberts Triple-A Oklahoma City Alex Freeland Kiké Hernández