PHOENIX -- Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood, who had elbow surgery on July 20 and hasn't pitched for the Dodgers since May 30, could rejoin the club in a relief role in a few days.
Wood, who had an arthroscopic debridement, had a 3.99 ERA in 10 starts this season before being shut down. Manager Dave Roberts said Wood would be used down the stretch initially as a situational lefty, joining the Dodgers' four other lefties in the bullpen - Luis Avilán, Grant Dayton, J.P. Howell and Adam Liberatore.
"There are a lot of guys that are going to help us these last 17 days and are in the conversation for a potential playoff roster and I don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but adding Woody to the mix gives us another option," said Roberts. "We'll see how he performs."
Wood threw to hitters on Wednesday and again on Thursday, the latter against Dodgers hitters Andrew Toles, Rob Segedin, Charlie Culberson during regular batting practice at Chase Field. He said he expects to be activated by Monday, if not sooner.
"Knock on wood, I've been really happy with it," Wood said. "It's been nice to feel like I'm healed and close to normal. I'm not worried about the difference in warming up as a reliever than a starter. It's more of just getting the feel back as fast as possible, where you would be with command by the end of the season. When I went down I was feeling as good as I've felt in a while. I'm excited to be back."
A starter during the regular season, Wood was moved to the bullpen for the postseason of 2013 by Atlanta and in 2015 by the Dodgers. He relieved Brett Anderson in Game 3 of last year's National League Division Series against the Mets, allowing four runs in two innings and a homer to Yoenis Céspedes.