Watch CBS News

Dodgers Pitcher Brandon Beachy Set For First Start In 2 Years

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Brandon Beachy has had a tough road back to the Major League's after undergoing two Tommy John surgeries in the past two years, but  get back on the mound for the first time in 23 months and will make his Dodgers' debut Saturday night against the Brewers.

Beachy last pitched for the Atlanta Braves on August 20th, 2013. He was 2-1 in five starts with a 4.50 ERA for the Braves in 2013 before undergoing his second Tommy John surgery.

His best season came in 2011, when he went 7-3 with a 3.68 ERA in 25 games started for the Braves. He pitched 141 2/3 innings and struck out 169 batters while walking 46.

The Dodgers activated Beachy from the 60-day disabled list Saturday, and sent pitcher Josh Ravin to Triple-A Oklahoma City. They also designated pitcher Matt West for assignment on Saturday as well.

Beachy is taking the place of Dodgers' pitcher Carlos Frias, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a lower-back injury.

Beachy made one rehab start with Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamongo, and four with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He made 93 pitches in his last start with Oklahoma City, and according to manager Don Mattingly, he will not be on a pitch limit when he takes the mound tonight against the Brewers.

"I feel like I'm ready to compete at this level," Beachy said. There's always that hurdle that is only going to come when I'm on a big league mound and I can't clear that until I get out there."

Beachy has a 14-11 career record with a 3.23 ERA in 46 games started. He is 28 years old and was signed by the Braves as an amateur free agent in 2008.

The right-hander was scheduled to make one more rehab start for Oklahoma City on Saturday, but was scratched from that in order to pitch for the big league club on Sunday. \

His manager, Don Mattingly said of Beachy, "He had some conversations with Farhan and the guys [Training staff] and he was absolutely ready to go and that's what we needed to hear."

Beachy will face rookie pitcher Taylor Jungmann of the Brewers, who is having a very impressive campaign thus far. Jungmann is 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA and 27 strikeouts in just six career starts. He filled in for injured Brewers pitcher Willy Peralta and has not looked back since gaining a spot in the Milwaukee rotation.

Jungmann came out of the University of Texas and pitched in the College World Series in 2009. He was selected 12th overall by the Brewers in the 2011 MLB Draft, and was promoted to the big leagues this season on June 9th.

The Dodgers enter play with a record of 50-38 while the Brewers are struggling to find their way with a record of 37-51. The Dodgers are 5.5 games ahead of the San Francisco Giants for first place in the NL West, while the Brewers trail the St. Louis Cardinals by 10.0 games in the NL Central.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.