The Dodgers will activate right-hander Juan Nicasio from the 15-day disabled list prior to Tuesday’s three-game series opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. To make room on the Dodgers current 25-man roster, they will option right-hander Yimi Garcia back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Nicasio couldn’t have picked a worse time to suffer a left abdominal strain. Then again, he couldn’t have picked a better time to return from the DL either.
(Photo credit – Harry How)

The announcement came on Monday morning and the move will undoubtedly be a brief one, as Garcia is expected to be brought back up to the big league club when rosters expand on September 1.

Nicasio has been on the disabled list since August 10 with a left abdominal strain. Prior to that he went 1-3 with a 3.06 ERA with one save in the 38 games (one start) in which he has appeared this season. Prior to his injury, he was one of the very few consistently reliable relievers in the Dodgers’ troubled bullpen. With the team currently mired in a dismal 0-5 road trip (with only the Cincinnati series remaining), Nicasio’s absence has been a huge loss for the team and his return couldn’t come soon enough.

Garcia figures to be back with the Dodgers on September 1 when rosters expand.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

The 25-year-old Garcia is 3-3 with a 3.55 ERA with one save in his 46 games this season – including one start. This will be his fourth trip back to Oklahoma City this season but figures to be his last. In his three stints with the Dodgers, he has an excellent .212 batting average against and posting a 0.99 WHIP in his second MLB season.