The Dodgers pitching staff will soon be fortified with the additions of 24-year-old starting pitcher Dustin May and 34-year-old reliever (closer?) Blake Treinen. Clearly, adding the supremely talented May and veteran closer Treinen to the pitching staff will be a significant improvement to the Dodgers World Championship aspirations.

May is set to return to active status on Saturday, August 20 as the starting pitcher against the Miami Marlins. Treinen recently started his rehab assignment for the team’s Triple-A team in Oklahoma City and will be activated in a few weeks, perhaps on September 1 when rosters are expanded to 28 players.

Both May and Treinen are on the MLB 60-day IL and not counted against the 40-man roster limitation. In order for May to be added to the roster (and later Treinen), a corresponding move must be made to remove another player from the roster. The most likely players to be removed from the roster are 29-year-old pitcher Jake Reed and 32-year-old utility player Eddie Alvarez.

The most likely pitcher to be optioned from the 26-man active roster to make room for May is rookie pitcher Ryan Pepiot, although Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Wednesday that Pepiot will probably make another start. The Dodgers may delay Treinen’s return until September 1 to avoid optioning another pitcher like Reyes Moronta or Phil Bickford.

On Wednesday, the Dodgers announced that they had reinstated infielder Edwin Rios from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A OKC.

The roster decisions could become even more complicated if relief pitcher(s) Tommy Kahnle and/or Victor Gonzalez are able to return from their respective stints on the 60-day IL. Reportedly, both pitchers are on throwing programs, but have not yet faced live pitching.

Never fear, the Dodgers have a master roster manipulation in President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, who will find a way to have the best possible roster for the remainder of the 2022 regular season and postseason.

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