Dodgers left-hander James Paxton designated for assignment as River Ryan makes major league debut

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers made a surprising change to their evolving rotation on Monday.

James Paxton was designated for assignment to make room for River Ryan on the 40-man roster. Ryan made his major league debut Monday night against the San Francisco Giants, becoming the 14th pitcher to start for the Dodgers this season.

Paxton tied with Gavin Stone and Tyler Glasnow for the team’s most-started players with 18. The veteran left-handed pitcher went 8-2 with a 4.43 ERA.

The 35-year-old Paxton signed a one-year, $7 million contract during the offseason. He allowed two runs in five innings in Sunday’s 9-6 win over the Boston Red Sox.

Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said finding a player to match Paxton is proving difficult with Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw returning from injuries this week, and the Dodgers are also keen to keep an eye on a number of young players.

“It was a tough decision. He handled it like a professional,” Roberts said. “We feel good about the starting staff going forward.”

Glasnow, who was placed on the injured list July 9 with a stiff back, will be activated and start Wednesday. Kershaw is scheduled to make his first start of the season Thursday in the series finale after recovering from midseason shoulder surgery.

Even with the return of Glasnow and Kershaw, the Dodgers are still missing Walker Buehler (right hip strain) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (right rotator cuff).

Buehler will throw a bullpen on Tuesday before making a pair of minor league rehab starts. Yamamoto isn’t expected back until late August.

Justin Wrobleski and Landon Knack are two of the younger pitchers the Dodgers want to see more of. Knack starts Tuesday night.

With the July 30 deadline approaching, the Dodgers are likely to find a trade partner for Paxton. Los Angeles has seven days to trade him, release him or send him straight to the minors — an assignment he would have the right to refuse in favor of free agency.

Roberts’ bigger concern may be the bullpen. Roberts indicated he will likely go with a closer-by-committee approach due to Evan Phillips’ recent struggles.

Phillips has allowed 10 runs (nine earned) in his last eight appearances and has an 11.05 ERA since June 30. He gave up three runs in a third of an inning against Boston on Sunday.

“For me, the leadership is a little off. The last couple of weeks, he’s been one pitch away from having a good game,” Roberts said of Phillips. “We need him to be good, and it’s our job to get him back to being who he is.”