Dodgers activate Chris Hatcher, place Juan Nicasio on DL

Chris Hatcher is pictured on opening day, when he picked up the save in a 6-3 victory over San Diego. But he has had his struggles, going 1-4 with a 6.38 earned-run average.

By Steve Dilbeck

Aug. 14, 2015 6:01 PM PT

That struggling Dodgers bullpen -- 4.19 earned-run average and rising -- was given an addition Friday. Now joining their relief corps ... Chris Hatcher.

Now it’s possible you don’t think this is the big answer to their relief problems, given that Hatcher owned a 6.38 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP prior to going on the disabled list with a left oblique strain.

And to make room for him on the 25-man roster, they placed Juan Nicasio – one of their more reliable relief arms – on the 15-day disabled list with a left abdominal pull. To add Hatcher to the overall 40-man roster, they moved Carlos Frias (lower back stiffness) from the 15-day to the 60-day DL.

Hatcher last pitched on June 14.

“It’s dragged out longer than I thought it would,” Hatcher said. “I’ve thrown enough.”

Hatcher appeared in eight rehab games, though he demonstrated little (7.36 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) to indicate he’s overcome his earlier problems.

Hatcher, 30, came to the Dodgers in the off-season as part of that seven-player trade with the Marlins. It was originally thought he could claim the eighth-inning role, but he got off to a horrid start (10.13 ERA, .318 opponent batting average in his first eight games) and fans quickly lost confidence in the former catcher.

Between the struggles on the mound and his injury problems, it’s made for one frustrating season for the right-hander.

“Very,” he said. “Started off pretty rough, kind of got on groove, get injured.

“It’s one of those things were you have to wear it.”

Hatcher had not allowed a run in his last three appearances prior to injuring his oblique.

“We’ve seen different flashes of good outings,” said Manager Don Mattingly. “He just hasn’t been consistent.”