The Dodgers placed Bickford on the 15-day injured list Saturday with lower back tightness.
Bickford had a strong start to the season but has since fallen off, allowing 16 earned runs through 12 innings across his last 10 appearances. He'll head to the IL to ensure he's at 100 percent his next time out, while Tayler Scott will come up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill out the bullpen.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Earns win in extra frames Monday
Rotowire
Bickford (1-1) nabbed the win against the Twins on Monday, allowing one unearned run on one hit and four walks while striking out four batters over three innings in a 12-inning Dodgers victory.
Los Angeles ran through six pitchers during the first nine frames, and with manager Dave Roberts preferring to avoid calling upon Brusdar Graterol (who pitched each of the previous two days) and Victor Gonzalez (who tossed 1.2 innings Sunday), Bickford was tasked with covering three frames. He ended up tossing a career-high 48 pitches, allowing just an unearned run when the automatic runner crossed the plate in the 10th. Though Bickford walked four (one intentionally) and tossed just 27 of 48 pitches for strikes, he constantly worked his way out of trouble to pick up the win. The right-hander has a 4.58 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 25:9 K:BB across 19.2 innings on the campaign.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Makes Opening Day roster
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Bickford will begin the season on the Dodgers' 26-man roster, per Chad Moriyama of Dodgers Digest.
Bickford had mixed results this spring, giving up only five hits over 6.2 innings but also allowing four earned runs and posting a mediocre 3:2 K:BB. However, his roster spot was never in much question since he's out of minor-league options. Bickford will likely take on a middle-relief role for Los Angeles to begin the campaign.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Out with shoulder fatigue
Rotowire
Bickford was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right shoulder fatigue.
Bickford hasn't pitched since Sept. 23 when he surrendered four runs (three earned) across 1.1 innings, including Albert Pujols' 700th home run. The right-hander will miss the rest of the regular season and will be eligible to be activated during the playoffs; however, even if healthy, his 4.72 ERA doesn't make much of a case for him to be included on the postseason roster.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Serves up Pujols' 700th homer
Rotowire
Bickford pitched 1.1 innings against St. Louis on Friday, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and no walks while striking out two batters.
Bickford had his name etched into the history books when he became the fourth pitcher even to serve up career homer No. 700 to an opposing batter, as Albert Pujols tagged him for a three-run shot in the fourth inning. That was one of two homers Bickford gave up in the outing -- Lars Nootbaar got to him for a much less memorable two-run shot in the fifth frame. The long ball has been a problem for Bickford this season, as he has now served up 12 in 61 innings of work. The righty reliever entered Friday having yielded just one run over his previous 12.2 innings, so he'll look to move past this hiccup and get back on track as he vies for a spot on the NLDS roster.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Returns to big club
Rotowire
The Dodgers recalled Bickford from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Despite being optioned to Triple-A just two days ago, Bickford is eligible to rejoin the big club after the Dodgers placed fellow reliever Brusdar Graterol (elbow) on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Bickford is likely to see most of his work in low-leverage spots during his upcoming stint in the majors.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Drops down to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Dodgers optioned Bickford to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
Bickford covered 2.2 innings in total while making relief appearances in three of the past four days, so his demotion is likely the result of the Dodgers wanting to add a fresh arm to the bullpen in advance of Tuesday's game against the Mets. Right-hander Jake Reed was recalled from Triple-A and will replace Bickford in the bullpen.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Credited with win Saturday
Rotowire
Bickford (2-1) allowed one hit while striking out two batters over 1.1 innings to pick up the win over Kansas City on Saturday.
Starter Andrew Heaney departed early after being hit on the left arm by a line drive, and Los Angeles trotted out five different relievers to finish off the game. Bickford was arguably the most effective of the group, throwing 19 of 25 pitches for strikes and allowing just one hit while punching out two batters. The win was his first decision of any kind since mid-July, as he's been working mostly in lower-leverage situations. Bickford has a 5.05 ERA this season due largely to allowing eight home runs over 41 innings.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Notches win despite rough outing
Rotowire
Bickford (1-1) was credited with the win against the Cubs on Sunday despite giving up three runs on two hits and two walks over one inning. He struck out three batters.
Dodgers starter Julio Urias was shelled in the first inning and removed after the second, and Bickford came in to pitch the third. The right-hander struck out three batters in the frame but also surrendered a three-run homer to David Bote. That long ball put the Dodgers behind 8-3, but Los Angeles stormed back with six runs in the bottom of the frame and held onto the lead for the remainder of the contest to grant Bickford the improbable win. The rough outing came on the heels of one of Bickford's strongest stretches of the campaign -- over his previous six appearances, he had allowed only one run on two hits while posting a 7:0 K:BB and picking up three holds.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Notches fourth hold
Rotowire
Bickford earned a hold against Colorado on Monday, pitching a perfect inning during which he struck out one batter.
After Dodgers starter Julio Urias allowed just one run over six frames, Bickford took over for the seventh inning. The right-hander began his outing with a strikeout and set the side down in order on 15 pitches. Bickford allowed four runs across two-thirds of an inning in a poor outing against Cincinnati on June 23, but around that blowup he's notched seven scoreless outings during which he's posted an 8:0 K:BB over seven frames.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Loss in relief
Rotowire
Bickford (0-1) took the loss Tuesday against the White Sox, allowing two runs on two hits with no strikeouts or walks over two-thirds of an inning.
After starter Mitch White left the game tied 0-0, Bickford entered and gave up a two-run double to AJ Pollock. Bickford was pulled after just nine pitches and picked up the loss.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Recalled from minors
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Bickford was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
Bickford was sent down by the Dodgers on May 27, but he'll rejoin the major-league club to provide bullpen depth after Craig Kimbrel was placed on the paternity list Tuesday. Over 17 relief appearances in the majors this year, Bickford has posted a 3.45 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 15.2 innings.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Sent to minors
Rotowire
Bickford was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
The right-hander has a 3.45 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB over 15.2 innings for the Dodgers this season, but he'll head to Triple-A with Friday's starter, Ryan Pepiot, being promoted to the big-league club. Bickford also pitched well for Los Angeles last year with a 2.81 ERA, so it's only a matter of time before he's back in the majors.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Earns hold in season debut
Rotowire
Bickford picked up a hold Monday against Atlanta, allowing one hit in one scoreless inning.
Bickford started the season in the minors after having his spring schedule delayed by arm soreness, and he was called up to the big club Sunday. He was sharp in his first big-league outing of the campaign Monday, throwing 13 of 16 pitches for strikes and allowing only an infield single. The right-hander enjoyed a breakout season with Los Angeles last season and figures to play a significant role in the team's bullpen now that he is back to full health.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Joins big club
Rotowire
The Dodgers recalled Bickford from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday.
Bickford was unable to win a spot in the Dodgers' Opening Day bullpen after he was delayed in camp by a bout with arm soreness, but after making a few tune-up appearances at Oklahoma City, he's been deemed ready to join the big-league club. According to Eric Stephen of SBNation.com, manager Dave Roberts said that Bickford will be restricted to appearances of no more than an inning initially, but the right-hander is otherwise sufficiently built up and able to pitch on back-to-back days if needed.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Sent to minors
Rotowire
The Dodgers optioned Bickford to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.
Bickford missed a good chunk of Cactus League play due to a bout with arm soreness, but he was able to toss a pair of scoreless innings Saturday and Tuesday to erase any concerns about his health. Even so, the missed time looks as though it was enough to cost Bickford a spot in the Dodgers' Opening Day bullpen. Bickford found success as a right-handed specialist for the Dodgers late in the 2021 season, so he'll likely rank near the top of the list for a call-up when Los Angeles requires another reliever.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Makes spring debut
Rotowire
Bickford (arm) tossed a perfect inning against San Francisco in a Cactus League contest Saturday. He struck out two.
Bickford entered camp battling arm soreness, so he wasn't able to get into his first spring contest until Saturday. Despite the delayed start, the right-hander pitched as if he was in midseason form, needing only 13 pitches to get three outs -- two of which came via strikeout. Bickford isn't expected to be ready for Opening Day, but he should occupy a key role in the Dodgers' bullpen once he's fully ramped up.
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Dodgers' Phil Bickford: Coming back from arm soreness
Rotowire
Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Bickford isn't expected to be ready for Opening Day after experiencing arm soreness before the start of spring training, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Bickford had a delayed start to camp and has yet to pitch in a Cactus League game, though his spring debut may not be far off given he's already thrown live batting practice. The 26-year-old turned into a reliable bullpen piece for the Dodgers last season with nine holds and a 2.81 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 59:19 K:BB across 51.1 innings, and he should fill a setup role once healthy in 2022.
Bickford (4-2) was credited with the win against Arizona on Monday, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning.
Starter Clayton Kershaw pitched well in his return to the mound, but he was limited to 50 pitches over 4.1 frames. Bickford took over with one out in the fifth and tossed 16 of 23 pitches for strikes over his inning of work, allowing only an infield single to pick up the victory. The right-hander continues to thrive in his first full big-league season. In 50 games with the Dodgers, he has posted a 2.54 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 54:17 K:BB while notching eight holds and one save.
