Dodgers shake up roster with pitching reinforcements on the way

A day after pitching five innings against the Boston Red Sox and earning the win, James Paxton was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Los Angeles needed to make room on the 40-man roster for River Ryan, who will be making his MLB debut on Monday against the San Francisco Giants. Ryan missed the first part of the season with an injury , but has a 2.22 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched.

Paxton provided the Dodgers with innings pitched and taking the mound every fifth day. Paxton made 18 starts this season which is more than every pitcher on the staff except Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone who also have 18.

Although Paxton gave the Dodgers innings, they were average at best. The " Big Maple " sported a 4.43 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and opposing batters hit . 246 against him .

Another factor going against Paxton was his future with the team. He is only on a one-year $7M plus incentives deal. Paxton wont be on the Dodgers beyond 2024, unlike other pitchers on the team.

The Dodgers are also expecting Clayton Kershaw and Glasnow back from the IL this week.

Kershaw is coming back from the 60-day IL after undergoing surgery last November . He made two recent rehab starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City. He pitched three innings on July 13 and then four innings on Friday, getting up to 67 pitches. The Dodgers will need to make a move on the 40-man roster for Kershaw's return.

Glasnow is coming back after landing on the 15-day IL with low back tightness. Glasnow's injury was very mild and was aimed to give him extra rest. Glasnow even said during an interview that he could've pitched in the All-Star Game if he had to, but it made more sense to take the rest.

With other pitchers like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller expected back sometime this year, Paxton found himself as the odd man out. The Dodgers now have a week to either trade Paxton or release him.