The Los Angeles Dodgers just went on one of the best runs ever in baseball history after winning 42 of 50 games and despite losing consecutive games for the first time in what feels like forever, there is still plenty to be happy about from Don Mattingly's perspective, including reliever Brian Wilson being activated from the disabled list.
According to ESPN.com, Wilson was placed on the active roster from the 15-day disabled list after being signed by the Dodgers this summer and he is now set to get into a game for the first time in over a year. Wilson has been dealing with injury issues since starring as the San Francisco Giants closer and he is coming back from his second Tommy John elbow surgery after having it done back when he was in college. Mattingly said that his first game back would likely be a no-pressure situation and after being a closer for most of his recent career, he will now have the chance to set up Kenley Jansen out of the pen.
Wilson had a mess of a season last year and only appeared in two games for the Giants before getting injured in April and he hasn't played in a major league game since. Wilson was signed to a one-year deal this summer and he was solid while not allowing a run in over four innings of work in the minors and he also worked in a simulated game for Los Angeles. Wilson is known for his very long beard and he previously won two World Series with the Giants and has over 170 career saves and to make room, the team optioned Scott Van Slyke to Triple-A.
The Dodgers are now 72-52 after losing to the Dodgers 6-2 on Monday night and they have surged through the summer to the top of the National League West and are basically running away with things. The team ranks 15th in runs and fourth in batting average and are sixth in on base percentage and 15th in slugging. At one point Mattingly was supposed to be fired and now the team is the favorite in Las Vegas to win the World Series.
"I told him today the first one probably won't be bases-loaded, nobody out or anything," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "We'll try to get him out there a few times without putting him in the middle of the fire."