The Dodgers activated reliever Brusdar Graterol from the injured list a day earlier than planned on Tuesday night, though not under the circumstances they had hoped for.
Just before the start of Tuesday’s 6-3 defeat to the Chicago Cubs, the team revealed that key left-handed reliever Anthony Banda had been placed on the injured list due to a fractured left hand.
The injury resulted from Banda’s reaction to a rough outing on Monday night, where he gave up two runs. Manager Dave Roberts explained that Banda’s injury occurred when he struck a solid object in a moment of frustration.
“Emotions got the better of him after that outing,” Roberts said. “It’s something he regrets, and we all regret. He’ll learn from this experience.”
Roberts expressed optimism that Banda, a midseason minor-league addition who has become a significant part of the Dodgers’ bullpen, could return before the season ends. He mentioned that Banda has only a hairline fracture on his throwing hand.
“It will be a few days without throwing,” Roberts noted. “Then hopefully we can get him back on track.”
Banda, who has posted a 3.23 ERA over 46 appearances this year, was absent from the Dodgers clubhouse when reporters arrived after the game.
Graterol was originally slated to return on Wednesday, having missed the past month due to a hamstring strain sustained in his season debut on August 6—a debut that was already delayed by a shoulder injury from spring training.
The hard-throwing right-hander, who was initially feared to be out for the remainder of the season after being helped off the field during his only appearance this year, made his comeback with a scoreless ninth inning in the loss, allowing two hits and hitting 99 mph with his fastball.
Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that Graterol, who has been a key set-up man for the Dodgers in previous seasons, was not at his best. “Given the quality of contact he allowed, he’s not sharp, and that’s expected,” Roberts said. “But we have time to get Brusdar back to his usual form.”
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