LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers reliever Adam Liberatore was unavailable Tuesday night because of a sore right knee, but manager Dave Roberts said the injury is not serious.
Roberts said Liberatore "tweaked" the knee "covering a base the other day in St. Louis." Roberts said he didn't want to push Liberatore.
In Sunday's game, Liberatore entered in the seventh inning, struck out Tommy Pham and then allowed an infield single to Kolten Wong, when Liberatore was covering first base. He then uncharacteristically walked Alberto Rosario and Randal Grichuk back to back and was removed. All three inherited runners scored, snapping his franchise record of 28 appearances without allowing a run.
Without Liberatore, Roberts used J.P. Howell in the seventh inning, and Howell walked Kevin Kiermaier. Luis Avilán pitched the eighth, stranding one of the two runners he inherited from Joe Blanton, who allowed three consecutive hits.
"Obviously we've used Blanton a lot and he's delivered," Roberts said. "Tonight his fastball didn't seem to have life and location and the breaking ball wasn't sharp. Very uncharacteristic of Joe."