LOS ANGELES — Pedro Baez was in the middle of a nine-pitch battle with Marlins leadoff hitter Dee Gordon during the eighth inning of Wednesday’s game when he felt something near his right armpit.
The Dodgers right-handed reliever continued pitching, but Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly said he knew something was “funny” when Baez threw consecutive changeups to Gordon.
“I thought it was strange,” said Mattingly who was ejected earlier in the game and was watching in his office. “That’s really not his mix. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Pedro throw two straight changeups.”
After Gordon doubled to the wall in left-center field, catcher Yasmani Grandal went out to the mound, spoke with Baez and waved to the dugout for the trainer. Baez was pulled from the game and underwent an MRI exam Thursday morning that revealed a strained right pectoral muscle.
Baez was placed on the disabled list, and left-hander Daniel Coulombe was promoted from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Coulombe won’t be around for long. The Dodgers will activate Kenley Jansen from the DL either Friday or Saturday.
“The timing of an injury is never really good,” Mattingly said, “but the fact that Kenley’s ready makes it a little easier to swallow.”