Anderson set for next start after wrist scare

Reprieve for beleaguered rotation after starter lasted 1 inning in 2016 debut

August 16th, 2016

PHILADELPHIA -- Deep breath. The Dodgers won't lose another starting pitcher. can move his wrist.
"My arm feels good," Anderson said. "So I'm gonna throw a bullpen here tomorrow, the next day, and go from there."
From there, for Anderson, means making his next scheduled start. Manager Dave Roberts slotted him into the rotation for Saturday's game against the Reds in Cincinnati.
Anderson made his first start this season for Los Angeles on Sunday after undergoing back surgery in March. But the debut got cut far short when Anderson injured his wrist diving for a comebacker off the bat of . He stayed in to record the final out of the inning, but his wrist stiffened in the dugout and, like that, Anderson's first Major League start of the season lasted just one inning.
He allowed enough runs and hits in that inning to last a full start or two, though. The Pirates plated five on five hits, including two home runs, off Anderson in the single frame.
"There's a silver lining in that I was on a big league mound and it had been a long time," Anderson said. "I wasn't able to really get into the flow of the game."

As if the Dodgers hadn't been hit by the injury bug enough -- they have more pitchers on the DL than the active roster -- Anderson's injury history made the one-inning start cause for concern. But X-rays after the game came up negative.
The Dodgers waited to see how time treated Anderson's wrist, and after playing catch Monday, Anderson expects to make his next start.
Worth noting
• Is it possible for the Dodgers to get two pieces of good injury news on the same day? The club activated right-handed reliever from the 15-day DL on Monday. He joined the team in Philadelphia, replacing , who was optioned to Triple-A.
"He feels good," Roberts said. "It's good to get Casey back and pitch him in the top of the 'pen and give us one-plus innings. Hopefully he does what he does."
Los Angeles placed Fien on the DL a month ago with elbow tendinitis after he posted a 4.09 ERA in 22 innings for the Dodgers. Stewart appeared once after being recalled, allowing one run in three innings on Sunday vs. Pittsburgh.
• With the Anderson news, there is more shakeup in the Dodgers' rotation. With Anderson tabbed for Saturday in Cincinnati, Roberts announced will start the series opener on Friday. Norris was originally penciled in to start Thursday's finale in Philadelphia, but Roberts wanted him to get an extra day of rest. will start Thursday in Norris' place.
"It's not really opponent or ballpark driven," Roberts said. "It's just to give him an extra day -- and to not give Ross too much time off. So it kind of worked out that way."
Even starting Thursday, Stripling will be pitching on six days' rest. Norris is coming back from a strained back that has kept him out since leaving his July 31 start early. He last made a rehab start Aug. 13, allowing one run over 5 2/3 innings for Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga. The Dodgers have yet to activate Norris from the DL; they'll have to clear room for him before Friday.