Dodgers activate Michael Kopech, Kirby Yates off IL, DFA Chris Stratton, place Tony Gonsolin on 15-day IL

LOS ANGELES – Pitching reinforcements are coming in two for the Dodgers as Los Angeles has activated right-handed pitchers Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates from the injured list. In the corresponding move, the Dodgers have designated right-handed pitcher Chris Stratton for assignment and placed right-handed pitcher Tony Gonsolin on the injured list with right elbow discomfort. 

Kopech, 29, has been sidelined all season with a right shoulder injury. He made nine rehab appearances with Oklahoma City, going 1-0 with a 15.63 ERA in 6.1 innings. He was acquired at the trade deadline from the Chicago White Sox last season and made 24 appearances for the Dodgers, going 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA, including being a key piece in the Dodgers' run to a World Series title.  

Yates, 38, was placed on the injured list on May 18 with a right hamstring injury. He is 3-2 with a 4.34 ERA in 22 games for the Dodgers this season. In 444 career games with the Tampa Bay Rays (2014-15), New York Yankees (2016), Los Angeles Angels (2017), San Diego Padres (2017-20), Atlanta Braves (2022-23), Texas Rangers (2024) and Dodgers (2025), he is 29-23 with 96 saves and 602 strikeouts in 430 innings. The Hawaii native was signed by the Rays as an undrafted free agent on June 22, 2009. 

Gonsolin, 30, returns to the injured list after missing the first 30 games of the 2025 season, recovering from Tommy John surgery. This move comes as a bit of a shock as the right-hander had just returned to the rotation. He made seven starts, going 3-2 with a 5 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 36.0 innings. He was an All-Star in 2022 after posting a 12-1 record with a 2.14 ERA in 24 games. He has been with the Dodgers for six seasons, and he is 37-13 with a 3.34 ERA in 86 games (78 starts).  

Stratton, 34, tossed one inning last night, allowing a run on a solo homer to Willson Contreras. He made three appearances for Los Angeles, allowing three runs in four innings with six strikeouts. He made 12 appearances for Kansas City prior to joining L.A., allowing 15 earned runs in 17 innings. The 2023 World Series Champion has been in the Majors 10 seasons with the San Francisco Giants (2016-18), Los Angeles Angels (2019), Pittsburgh Pirates (2019-22), St. Louis Cardinals (2022-23), Texas Rangers (2023) and Royals (2024-25), going 41-27 with a 4.64 ERA in 374 games.