Fansided

These 5 MLB waiver trades will shape the postseason chase

By David Salituro

TORONTO, ON - MAY 12: Josh Donaldson #20 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats in the third inning during MLB game action against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre on May 12, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Donaldson
TORONTO, ON - MAY 12: Josh Donaldson #20 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats in the third inning during MLB game action against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre on May 12, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Donaldson /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 27: Ryan Madson #44 of the Washington Nationals delivers a pitch in the eighth inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 27, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Nationals won 5-3. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 27: Ryan Madson #44 of the Washington Nationals delivers a pitch in the eighth inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 27, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Nationals won 5-3. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

player. 71. <ul> <li><strong>Traded from Washington Nationals</strong></li> </ul>. RP. Los Angeles Dodgers. Ryan Madson. 3

The Los Angeles Dodgers needed help for their bullpen, and they found it Friday with the acquisition of Ryan Madson. Simply put, the Dodgers bullpen has been awful in August. Closer Kenley Jansen was hospitalized on Aug. 10 with an irregular heartbeat. Since returning 10 days later, he has given up seven runs in four innings. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.73 in August as the Dodgers try to catch the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies in the NL West. Coming into Friday, they trailed Arizona by two games while being three games out of the Wild Card spot.

The 38-year-old Madson provides some stability for the bullpen. He has struggled with the Washington Nationals this season, however, with a 5.28 ERA in 49 games. The low point of his season came on Aug. 12, when he gave up a walk-off grand slam to the Cubs’ David Bote. He just returned from the DL on Monday after missing two weeks with a neck injury. Madson does have experience closing games, saving 30 games for Oakland in 2016. The Dodgers sent a minor league pitcher to Washington in exchange for Madson on Friday. They hope the pitcher they are getting is a lot closer to the 2016 version than the one who’s been knocked around for Washington in 2018.

Madson has made 731 appearances in his 13-year career which started with Philadelphia in 2003, recording 91 saves and a 3.45 ERA.

Home/MLB