Dodgers extend their active roster with a recently acquired left-hander
The Dodgers made a number of roster announcements on Sunday, the most notable of which being the addition of left-hander Anthony Banda to the active roster.
Along with Banda, righties J.P. Feyereisen and Ricky Vanasco were optioned to Triple-A, and right-hander Landon Knack was recalled from Triple-A. In order to create space for Banda on the 40-man roster, right-hander Connor Brogdon was placed on the 60-day disabled reserve.
Banda, 30, was acquired by Los Angeles on Friday from the Guardians. However, since the left-hander was not included in Cleveland’s 40-man roster, he did not need to be moved up until Sunday when he was officially added to the team. The left-hander inked a minor league contract with Cleveland back in January after making an impressive impression in 17 innings of work at Triple-A. There, he struck out an incredible 37.9% of batters faced and finished with a 2.12 ERA in 12 games before being traded.
After making his major league debut with the Diamondbacks in 2017, Banda—a 2012 draft selection in the 10th round by the Brewers—has participated in portions of seven major league seasons. The left-hander has appeared in 90 major league games with seven different clubs overall, but he has had difficulty at almost every stop along the road.
Despite having a respectable 4.35 FIP, Banda’s career ERA in the major leagues is 5.69. However, if his high strikeout totals from the minors carry over to the major leagues, his luck may be changed. After all, Banda’s minor league strikeout rate throughout a whole season peaked at just 26.9% at Triple-A, and he has only recorded a lifetime strikeout rate of 19.9% thus far.
It’s obvious that the Dodgers are willing to give Banda a try in their bullpen because they are impressed by his improved swing-and-miss ability.
Knack, 26, is the new player joining Banda on the team. Sunday will mark the rookie right-hander’s fourth spot start of the major league season. Despite having poor peripherals thus far in his big league career, he has typically produced strong results.
Knack has a 2.81 ERA in 16 innings pitched in the major leagues this season, despite allowing three home runs and striking out just 16.9% of hitters. Knack has a 5.52 FIP as a result of such unstable fundamental statistics, despite his respectable 4.15 ERA in five Triple-A starts thus far.
Feyereisen and Vanasco, who both had brief stints in the Dodgers bullpen, will be moving to Triple-A to make room on the roster for Banda and Knack. Vanasco eventually saw action in just one game for the Los Angeles Angels before being optioned, but in his major league debut, he made an impression with two flawless frames and a strikeout.
Regarding Feyereisen, the 31-year-old’s comeback from shoulder surgery hasn’t gone as planned; in nine appearances, he’s given up a 6.00 ERA and 4.81 FIP, partly because of a high 13.2% walk rate. With the intention of making amends and making a comeback to the major league bullpen later this year, he will head to Triple-A.
Regarding Brogdon, the right-hander has not been available for selection since mid-April after being placed on the injured list due to plantar fasciitis shortly after joining the Phillies.
