The Los Angeles Dodgers are bringing left-handed pitcher Kris Bubic back from his minor league rehabilitation assignment as they prepare to use him in the bullpen for the final weeks of the regular season. Bubic, acquired from the Kansas City Royals at the Aug. 3 trade deadline, has not pitched in the major leagues since May because of elbow soreness. The 29-year-old was placed on the 60-day injured list and began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sept. 1.
The Dodgers have not yet activated Bubic, but he is expected to be activated as soon as Tuesday, prior to their game against the Cincinnati Reds. Bubic pitched 1.1 scoreless innings Sunday for Oklahoma City, striking out three. With the Comets, he's allowed no runs in 5.2 innings over six appearances during his rehab assignment.
Bubic has worked exclusively as a reliever during his rehab. The Dodgers are not expected to build him back up as a starter, with only two weeks remaining in the regular season and a projected postseason rotation that includes Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow. The move gives the Dodgers another option for covering multiple innings.
Left-hander Eric Lauer, who had filled that role at times, was transferred to the 60-day injured list last week because of left elbow inflammation, ending his season. More news: Former Dodgers World Series Champion, 2-Time All-Star, Contemplating Retiring Bubic was an All-Star with Kansas City in 2025, when he went 7-2 with a 2.55 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 116.1 innings over 20 starts. He was 3-2 with a 4.11 ERA in nine starts for the Royals this season before his injury.
His 2026 performance was uneven, but Bubic was particularly effective at home before going on the injured list. He held opponents to a .167 batting average in five starts at Kauffman Stadium and posted a 3.34 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in those games. More news: Former Rangers, Mariners, Twins First Baseman Dies The Dodgers acquired Bubic for minor league pitcher Carlos Duran to Kansas City on Aug. 3.
The trade was overshadowed by the acquisition of Skubal, a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner. Now that he's healthy, Bubic could give manager Dave Roberts a useful arm to evaluate before the Dodgers' postseason roster is finalized. For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
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