Dodgers going with eight relievers, short bench

MIAMI -- By activating Brian Wilson and optioning Scott Van Slyke to Triple-A Albuquerque, the Dodgers made an August roster move meant for September and October, a move in the name of hoarding inventory.

They don't need eight relievers, but that's how many they have. They could have released Carlos Marmol, but manager Don Mattingly said, "We really like Carlos." They could have optioned reliever Chris Withrow, but he's stepped into a middle-relief role and has become too valuable.

So until rosters expand Sept. 1, Mattingly said the Dodgers will try to play one position player short. And he said he's "a little" concerned about it.

"It's something we'll try to navigate," Mattingly said. "It comes into play when the starter doesn't go deep and we have to pinch-hit a few times."

It might mean Zack Greinke joins the list of hitters for games he's not pitching.

What it means the most is that management likes what it's seen from Marmol, the deposed closer of the Cubs.

"We really like Carlos and what he has a chance to bring," said Mattingly. "We can use him in a couple of roles. He's really flexible, he can throw the ball every day. He threw 20 [pitches] and felt he could throw again the next day. He bounces back easily."