LOS ANGELES — It wasn’t technically a present, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gladly welcomed back closer Evan Phillips on the skipper’s 52nd birthday.
Phillips was activated off the injured list on Friday. He had not played since May 3 because of a strained right hamstring.
“Evan worked really hard to get back,” Roberts said. “Having a guy at the back end that you trust, who was off to a really good season at this point, I’m just really excited.”
Phillips had a 0.66 ERA in 14 appearances this season and converted all eight of his save opportunities prior to the stint on the IL.
Getting the 29-year-old back in the mix gives the Dodgers some much-needed certainty and stability out of the bullpen. Phillips will return to his spot handling the ninth inning, Roberts said, a role he seized last season by getting 24 saves in 27 chances.
It was an unexpected evolution for Phillips, who had four saves through his first five seasons with Atlanta, Baltimore, Tampa Bay and the Dodgers. Roberts said Phillips has the right temperament for the role.
“He certainly has fire,” Roberts said. “He doesn’t, I guess, look like your prototypical closer that’s got the scruffy beard. But it comes down to making pitches, having a good heartbeat. The moment doesn’t get too big for him.”
It was a committee approach in Phillips’ absence, so his presence will let Daniel Hudson and Alex Vesia among others slot back into their previous roles.
“For me, I just feel so good when the game’s on the line when he has the ball. And there’s a few other guys in our ’pen that I feel the same about too, but having Evan back is a big boost to our ’pen,” Roberts said.
Elieser Hernández, a right-hander with an 0-1 record and an 8.38 ERA in five appearances, was designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Hernández gave up three earned runs without recording an out in a 10-3 victory over the New York Mets on Wednesday in what turned out to be his final appearance for the Dodgers.
ROJAS SHORING UP INFIELD, LINEUP
When third baseman Max Muncy went on the injured list on May 17 because of a strained right oblique, it opened up an opportunity for Miguel Rojas that the veteran is seizing.
Rojas is batting .389 with three doubles in five games since Muncy was put on the IL. He capped the recent road trip with four hits on Wednesday.
“Obviously, the defense has been really good. I think the quality of at-bat versus right-handed pitching has been there as well. I just love his energy when he’s in the lineup,” Roberts said.
Rojas is scheduled to get the day off Saturday, with Kiké Hernández set to handle third, but will he be back Sunday to wrap up the brief three-game homestand.
The Dodgers might need Rojas to keep up that production for the foreseeable future. Roberts said Muncy has not progressed to swinging a bat and is on a cautious rehabilitation program.
INJURY UPDATES
Right-handed starter Bobby Miller (right shoulder) will start for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga at Lake Elsinore on Saturday and ideally throw at least four innings. Miller will then make another start for Triple-A Oklahoma City before having a “real conversation” about making his first appearances for the Dodgers since April 10.
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Right-handed relief pitchers Ryan Brasier (calf) and Joe Kelly (shoulder) remain “a ways out” from returning, Roberts said. Brasier is able to play catch, while Kelly is throwing from 90 feet.
TRAVEL TROUBLES
The Dodgers dealt with a lengthy delay returning from New York because of weather and mechanical issues. After being scheduled to leave on Wednesday, they did not take off until 5:30 a.m. on Thursday morning.
“We made it back safely, which is great, but we were on that tarmac I think for 8½ hours,” Roberts said.
“Thank goodness we didn’t have to play yesterday.”
UP NEXT
Rockies (RHP Cal Quantrill, 4-3, 3.53 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 5-2, 3.51 ERA), Saturday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM