Baez, Paredes return as Cingrani goes on DL
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PITTSBURGH -- Less than 24 hours after optioning veteran reliever Pedro Báez to Triple-A Oklahoma City in order to make room for rookie right-hander Caleb Ferguson, the Dodgers placed left-hander Tony Cingrani on the 10-day disabled list with a left shoulder strain and recalled Baez on Thursday.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Baez received the news very well when he was told he was being optioned, and again when he received the call on Wednesday night informing him he would be recalled on Thursday.
"Baez understands the nature of this game," Roberts said. "And when you're a player that has options and we need certain coverage for pitchers, unfortunately he was kind of the victim in that situation. But with Tony [going on the DL, we're] getting him back, so he didn't really miss a beat."
Now in his fifth season with the Dodgers, Baez has posted a 3.25 ERA through 27 2/3 innings pitched in 2018.
Cingrani was pulled in the eighth inning of Wednesday night's game after feeling discomfort in his left shoulder. This DL stint comes less than a month after the southpaw was placed on the 10-day DL with left shoulder inflammation on May 9.
Ferguson optioned to Triple-A
The Dodgers optioned Ferguson to Oklahoma City on Thursday and recalled left-hander Edward Paredes.
Ferguson made his Major League debut against the Pirates on Wednesday, issuing three walks while striking out three and allowing four earned runs over 1 2/3 innings pitched.
Despite only making one appearance this season, this is the third time Paredes has joined the big league club. The 31-year-old hit one batter and retired two in a relief appearance against the D-backs on May 3.
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Santana scratched from first start
Dennis Santana was scheduled to make his first Major League start against the Pirates on Thursday, but he was scratched five minutes before first pitch with right lat tightness.
Right-hander Daniel Hudson made the start in his place, his first start of the season. Hudson, who appeared in each of the first two games of the series, entered the day with a 5.06 ERA in 17 relief appearances in 2018.