Right-hander Matt Sauer is expected to rejoin the Los Angeles Dodgers’ active roster ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Padres, according to manager Dave Roberts, who spoke to reporters following Monday night’s extra-innings win in San Diego. While the team hasn’t formally announced the move, Sauer was spotted with the club and is widely expected to pitch in some capacity Tuesday—either as a starter or in bulk relief following an opener.
Sauer, 26, has already logged seven appearances with Los Angeles this season, compiling a 3.05 ERA across 20.2 innings with a modest 13:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Though he’s made only one start, he appears stretched out for a longer outing after tossing 82 pitches over 4.2 innings in his most recent appearance for Triple-A Oklahoma City. With the Dodgers’ rotation depleted—Tony Gonsolin the latest to join a growing injured list that includes Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, and others—Sauer’s presence offers some much-needed depth.
Matt Sauer Set to Rejoin Los Angeles Dodgers for Pivotal Matchup in San Diego
This will mark Sauer’s fifth stint with the big-league club in 2025. He traveled with the team for the Tokyo Series earlier this spring and has been recalled and optioned multiple times since, nearing the league’s five-option limit for a single season. If he’s sent down again, it may be the last time the Dodgers can do so without exposing him to waivers.
Originally a second-round pick by the Yankees in 2017, Sauer made his MLB debut with the Royals last year after being selected in the Rule 5 Draft. He broke camp with Kansas City but struggled early, allowing 14 runs over 16.1 innings before being designated for assignment. He later returned to the Yankees’ system, but elected free agency and signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers last December. Since arriving in L.A., he’s carved out a role as a flexible option capable of handling multi-inning assignments.
Sauer’s pitch arsenal is headlined by a cutter he throws nearly 35% of the time—hitters are batting just .167 against it this season. He also mixes in a 94 mph sinker, which he uses to generate a healthy groundball rate close to 50%.
To make room for Sauer on the 26-man roster, the Dodgers are expected to designate veteran José Ureña for assignment. Ureña, who signed with the club just last week after brief stints with the Mets and Blue Jays, made two appearances in Dodger Blue, surrendering one run on four hits across three innings.
The Dodgers are navigating a grueling stretch in their schedule that includes consecutive series against division rivals San Diego and San Francisco. As the injuries continue to mount, they’ll look to Sauer—and others like him—to stabilize an overworked pitching staff.
If Sauer rises to the occasion Tuesday, he could strengthen his hold on a more permanent role in a big-league bullpen that’s been constantly reshuffling. For a pitcher who’s been on the margins of rosters in recent seasons, the opportunity is clear: deliver when it matters, and the door to staying in The Show might just stay open.