The Los Angeles Dodgers announced a handful of transactions on Wednesday that pave the way for a former All-Star to make his debut in Dodger Blue.
Kris Bubic, who was acquired by the Dodgers at the deadline from the Kansas City Royals, is being activated from the injured list, the team announced.
As a result, reliever Paul Gervase is being sent down to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, and outfielder Ryan Ward is being designated for assignment.
Where does Kris Bubic fit in for the Dodgers?
Bubic, who was an All-Star last season with the Royals, has traditionally served as a starting pitcher, a role he could fill in the waning few weeks of the regular season.
Come the playoffs, though, he’s likely to end up in the bullpen, as the Dodgers already feature starting pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tarik Skubal and Tyler Glasnow.
If one of those four wasn’t available, Justin Wrobleski and Roki Sasaki have spent significant portions of this season as starters, with Wrobleski even earning an All-Star appearance.
They’re believed to be in the bullpen for the playoffs, but they could easily be transitioned into the starting rotation if needed.
Similarly, Bubic has pitched in relief before, especially in the 2024 season, and he’s been doing so as he recovers from injury this season.
Where has Kris Bubic been?
Bubic has missed much of the 2026 season with shoulder soreness and some elbow pain, though in Triple-A Oklahoma City, he’s performed admirably for the Comets.
In six games, he threw 5.2 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts.
Before that shoulder issue arose in May, Bubic had amassed a 3-2 record and 4.11 ERA in nine starts for Kansas City.
Those numbers, though, were affected by his final outing with the Royals on May 14, a 6-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
That day, Bubic went four innings and gave up five earned runs.
Take out that performance and he has a 3-1 record and ERA of 3.50.
The Dodgers are surely hoping he can recapture the magic of 2025 and his early 2026 form, and in doing so, add another dependable arm to a bullpen that has been inconsistent and cost the team some games this season.
Given that Bubic last pitched on Sunday, he could make his Dodgers debut as early as Wednesday.
He’s been in Cincinnati with the team since Monday, giving him plenty of time to prepare.
Are you excited to see Kris Bubic in action?
