Dodgers call up Nathan Eovaldi; expected to start Saturday

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They’ve gone this route before, and with pretty good success, so the Dodgers decided to once again to dip into their double-A ranks for a pitcher.

According to the Chattanooga Times-Free Press, on Friday the Dodgers called up Nathan Eovaldi, a 21-year-old right-hander who is expected to start Saturday in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks.

Eovaldi was 6-5 with a 2.62 ERA in 19 starts for Chattanooga. He has 99 strikeouts and 46 walks in 103 innings with a 1.18 WHIP.

He had never pitched above Class-A ball until this season and wasn’t considered this close to the majors, until having something of a breakout season for the Lookouts. And a series of injuries to Dodgers pitchers.

Previously the Dodgers have gone to Chattanooga to tap right-handed starter Rubby De La Rosa and current closer Javy Guerra. Reliever Josh Lindblom was also culled from the Lookouts.

It is De La Rosa’s season-ending elbow injury that has created the current opening in the rotation. The Dodgers previously called up starter John Ely from triple-A Albuquerque, but have apparently decided to give the young Eovaldi a chance and use Ely in long relief.

[Updated at 10:25 p.m.: After Friday’s game, the Dodgers optioned Ely back to Albuquerque, officially purchased the contract of Eovaldi and said he would start Saturday.]

-- Steve Dilbeck