The Los Angeles Dodgers made a sudden move on Wednesday, July 1, optioning Wyatt Mills down to Oklahoma City Triple-A and recalling lefty Charlie Barnes from the minor leagues.
On Tuesday against the Athletics, Mills pitched one full inning, getting three strikeouts in a clean inning of work.
Mills had been recalled on the same day as the team designated Jonathan Hernandez for assignment, a move that was made to give the bullpen a fresh arm.
However, Mills’ time on the active roster was short-lived, and now Barnes is taking his place for the foreseeable future.
Barnes has made two appearances for the Dodgers this season, pitching a total of two innings, allowing two hits, one walk, and no runs.
He came over via a claim from the Chicago Cubs, where he pitched another three innings this year, allowing three runs before hitting waivers.
The lefty is part of the 40-man roster, making him an optionable pitcher for the organization to call up at their heart’s desire.
What does Charlie Barnes bring to the Dodgers?
Barnes is not a high-ceiling pitcher for the Dodgers, as his fastball sits under 90 mph. However, he has brought some new pitches with him from his time in the KBO.
He has a brand new sweeper, along with his slider, changeup, and sinker, which give him five pitches.
Barnes is likely getting the call-up due to his experience with bulk relief work. He has made starts in Triple-A with OKC, which will give the team confidence about his ability to pitch during the game against the A’s on Wednesday.
The Dodgers are playing a bullpen game with Jack Dreyer getting the team started, and Barnes may feature in the middle of the game to eat some innings.
LA’s offense has tee’d off against the A’s pitching, giving the Dodgers a good chance to finish off a sweep, even with weaker pitching than usual.
