LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers are shutting down Franklin Gutierrez and lefty Adam Liberatore, manager Dave Roberts said on Friday.
Gutierrez, who signed with the Dodgers in February, has dealt with ankylosing spondylitis, a rare chronic immune-arthritic condition, since 2011. The condition causes stiff joints and associated debilitating symptoms.
The Dodgers placed Gutierrez on the 10-day disabled list on June 25 and transferred him to the 60-day DL on Aug. 4. The club hoped Gutierrez would be a serviceable right-handed bat off the bench, but the 34-year-old has only been able to play in 35 games this season.
As for Liberatore, Roberts said the lefty didn't feel "justified" to come off the DL in his last rehab outing. Liberatore has appeared in four games this season. The Dodgers moved Liberatore to the 60-day DL on July 28 with a left elbow strain, and his season has been spent recovering from the injury and making rehab starts in the Minors. His most recent outing came on Sept. 1 with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He gave up one hit in one inning in relief.
"That's his season," Roberts said. "So hopefully expect him to come back next season and compete for a job."
While lefty Scott Kazmir hasn't been shut down, Roberts said he doesn't see Kazmir making the Dodgers' postseason roster. The club sent Kazmir to its training facility in Arizona and placed him a weighted-ball program to help him regain velocity.
Roberts said there's a chance Kazmir could pitch in the Majors again this season, but only to end the year on a good note as the campaign winds down. The lefty is slated to pitch three innings out of the bullpen for Class-A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday.
Another starting pitcher on the DL, Brandon McCarthy, will start Friday night for Rancho Cucamonga. The right-hander has been out since July 24 with right knee tendinitis.
"Where we're at and who we have," Roberts said, "and guys that are pitching really well in the starter role, I think to give Brandon another opportunity to figure something out, to go out there and compete is a good thing. After tonight, we'll have more information."