Dodgers use Klein as opener for Lauer; Stewart activated

MINNEAPOLIS – The Dodgers altered their pitching plans ahead of Monday’s series opener against the Twins, electing to start right-handed reliever Will Klein as an opener ahead of left-hander Eric Lauer.

In the first inning, Klein allowed one run on two hits, including a home run from Byron Buxton. He struck out two and walked one.

Manager Dave Roberts explained on Monday afternoon that the decision was dictated strictly by matchup advantages against the top of Minnesota's batting order.

"I think it was just more of giving Eric the best chance to take down more outs [in] the game," Roberts said. "You see the first four out of five hitters are beefy right-handed hitters, and just to open with Klein, we feel good about [him] to pitch one inning, and then Eric will be in there in the second inning."

Roberts noted that this is a start-to-start strategy rather than a permanent role change for Lauer, depending heavily on the opposing lineup. The plan was communicated to Lauer following Sunday's workout.

The utilization of an opener carries a history for Lauer, who previously expressed dissatisfaction with how the strategy was managed during his tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays. While Lauer later stated those past comments were blown out of proportion on social media, he noted earlier this season that the open communication in Los Angeles has provided a different experience.

"It's good to just have that clarity and that understanding of, 'This is what we see out of you, this is where we're going to use you, this is what we need, this is what we want,'" Lauer said when he first joined the Dodgers. "And when it lines up with what I want and what I feel I can do the best to help the team, I think that's a really good spot to be in."

Stewart activated

The Dodgers' bullpen received additional reinforcement on Monday with the activation of right-hander Brock Stewart from the injured list.

After missing the start of the year recovering from right shoulder surgery, Stewart made his season debut in May, only to immediately return to the injured list with a bone spur and arthritic cartilage flare-up in his left foot. The issue stems from a 2012 Lisfranc repair surgery.

"First of all, it feels a lot better," Stewart said on Monday during an interview with SportsNet LA. "And everything around it's much stronger. ... Fortunately, really the whole time I was able to keep my arm in shape and keep throwing, whether that's like plyo throws on my knees for a couple days and then just pretty much stationary on my feet throwing. And then got out on the grass and then got on the mound."

Before the foot injury sidelined him, Stewart made just two appearances for Los Angeles, striking out three batters and walking one across two scoreless innings.

During his recent rehab assignment split between Single-A Ontario and Triple-A Oklahoma City, Stewart proved his readiness by allowing just one run over 10 1/3 innings while striking out 18 batters and issuing three walks.

"I'm not going to sit here and say I maintain perfect mental health," Stewart said regarding his consecutive stints on the injured list. "I deal with struggles. ... It's almost embarrassing, you know, was brought over here midway last year and haven't helped out much, so that's on my mind all the time. Don't get me wrong, I work hard, and I want to help out as much as I possibly can."

Roberts stated that the training staff has checked all necessary boxes regarding Stewart's physical readiness. The Dodgers plan to use him without restrictions.