Dodgers option Stephen Fife to Triple-A and add Joe Blanton to the active roster

The Los Angeles Dodgers today optioned right-handed pitcher Stephen Fife to Triple-A Albuquerque as right-handed pitcher Joe Blanton was added to the active roster. The 25-year-old Fife was 0-1 with a 2.16 ERA in three starts with the Dodgers this season.

Blanton, who was acquired from Philadelphia yesterday in exchange for a player to be named later, was 8-9 with a 4.55 ERA with the Phillies this season and leads the National League with a 6.39 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has issued just 1.22 walks per 9.0 innings, which also leads the league. The 31-year-old, who will wear No. 56,  has been very effective recently, averaging 7.2 innings pitched in his last three starts and posting a 2.74 ERA (7 ER/23.0 IP) since July 16. During that stretch, he has limited opposing hitters to a .200 batting average (17-for-85), while striking out 20 and walking only two.