Graterol looks to shore up command

The Dodgers activated right-handed reliever Brusdar Graterol from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned him to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

The right-hander has been on the injured list twice this season and has endured long stints. He started the season on the IL and was activated in mid-April. Less than two weeks later, the 22-year-old was placed back on the injured list.

With the regular season two months old, Graterol has recorded 1 1/3 innings over three relief outings. He allowed three earned runs on three hits, walked two and had one strikeout.

Prior to the beginning of the season, the electric reliever experienced some setbacks. Graterol’s Spring Training program was delayed after he experienced several limitations during the offseason, which manager Dave Roberts explained contributed to Graterol's slow start.

"I think that's a big part of it. I think that some of the things were out of Brusdar's control, some things -- to be quite frank -- were in his control,” Roberts said. “But it's where we're at right now, and how do we go from here to there, and this is what we feel is best for him and the Dodgers.”

The Dodgers determined Graterol’s sinker and slider are not at the level they'd like to see, especially since those are the pitches he relies on most.

Opposing teams are hitting .600 against his sinker with an .800 slugging percentage, according to Statcast. On that pitch, he has a 0.0 putaway percentage (a metric used to determine the rate of two-strike pitches that result in a strikeout).

"He's healthy, the ball's coming out, but the slider is not as consistent as it needs to be to get Major League hitters out consistently, and the sinker is not commanded the way it needs to be,” Roberts said. “I think that the option just allows for him to have a clear path to go out there and pitch regularly and get the sinker down in the zone and continue to work on that slider. When he does that, then I expect to see him."

Jones returns to old stomping grounds

While the Dodgers made their first appearance of the season at Truist Park this weekend, right-handed reliever Nate Jones was excited to return and face his old team.

Jones was with the Braves for 12 games earlier this season. He allowed four earned runs in 10 1/3 innings before being designated for assignment after his May 1 outing against Toronto. The Dodgers signed the right-hander to a Minor League contract on May 14.

Since he joined the Los Angeles bullpen a couple of weeks ago, Jones has found a rhythm on the mound that has led to only two earned runs allowed in 6 1/3 innings. Jones explained that his approach on the mound hasn’t differed at all since he changed uniforms.

"I'm doing the same thing that I was trying to do while I was here as a Brave, just go out and attack hitters and get ahead and try to put up zeros to hand off to the next guy," Jones said. "And so far, so good, here with the Dodgers.”

Jones set the bar high in his first appearance and has met the standard continuously since then. He was tasked to hold the Giants at bay in his Dodgers debut on May 21 in a one-run game. He followed Trevor Bauer’s 11-strikeout performance with 1 2/3 hitless innings.

Jones has exceeded expectations in the bullpen and has transformed himself into a reliable arm in high-leverage situations. Jones credited the Dodgers coaching staff with helping him prepare for big moments.

"It's been exciting, that's for sure. One thing here is they communicate very well. There's two or three coaches and staff members that told me that there's a great chance that I was going to be throwing tonight,” Jones said. “And even bigger chances of putting me late in the game in a big situation. Just to have that communication and being able to have that mental preparation is huge. And that's not just a one-night thing, it's a daily thing, as well.”