LOS ANGELES ― When Mookie Betts landed on the injured list in June with a cracked rib, the Dodgers chose a pair of journeymen – Eddy Alvarez and Trayce Thompson – to serve as a lefty/righty platoon tandem until Betts returned.

Now that left fielder Chris Taylor is facing a similar road back from a fracture in his left foot, Thompson will reprise the same role in left field, this time alongside the left-handed swinging veteran Jake Lamb.

Alvarez, who does not have a significant track record of hitting at the major league level, is back at Triple-A. Thompson and Lamb, whose best years appeared to be behind them when they became Dodgers, at least have some sustained success on their resumes.

Now, in a short period of time, their careers appear to be back on track. The Dodgers have struggled to get offensive production from their bench, which could give Thompson and Lamb a chance to stick around when Taylor returns.

Lamb, 31, was back in the lineup Wednesday with a right-hander, Jose Ureña, on the mound for Colorado. He began the day with three hits, including a double and a triple, in his first 10 at-bats.

A former All-Star third baseman (2017) with the Diamondbacks, Lamb adds left-handed depth to a lineup that has struggled to get offensive production from Cody Bellinger and, until recently, Max Muncy. Lamb hit .290 with 15 home runs in 61 games at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Yet he was passed over for a promotion several times before his contract was selected in June.

“I didn’t know if they were going to call me up or not but I didn’t really care,” Lamb told AM 570. “I was loving playing baseball again. I want to be in the big leagues, help this team win games, but for me … I really got that obsession back with baseball in the best way possible. Helping the younger guys in OKC whether it’s hitting, just thinking the game … whatever it was, it was a lot of fun. I wouldn’t say it was a long road at all.”

Thompson continues to produce in his limited chances. In a rare at-bat against a right-handed pitcher, Thompson stroked an RBI single to right field against Alex Colome in the eighth inning Tuesday night. It was his only plate appearance of the game.

“He certainly has had some hits against right-handers, but he’s going to make his money with us, and his role is, to play against left-handed pitching primarily,” Manager Dave Roberts said of Thompson. “Same with Jake versus right-handed pitching.”

Thompson showed a penchant for power during his first tour of duty with the Dodgers, which was derailed by a back injury in 2016. He’s bounced around eight organizations since the Dodgers designated him for assignment in 2018.

Now 31, Thompson has eliminated much of the swing-and-miss from his approach to become a better all-around hitter. He’s 11 for 39 (.306) with two homers in his first 14 games with the Dodgers.

“Right now I see he understands his swing more,” Roberts said of Thompson. “He understands how to conduct an at-bat, and he understands how pitchers are trying to get him out. That just comes with experience.”

Years ago, Thompson said he would pick the brains of teammates Howie Kendrick and Adrian Gonzalez, who had the ability to hit for average as well as power during their long big league careers. Now he is doing the same with Freddie Freeman, whose long limbs remind him of his own.

“To (Thompson’s and Lamb’s) credit, they understand their role and embrace it,” Roberts said.

TAYLOR UPDATE

Taylor will not engage in baseball activities for the next week to 10 days, Roberts said. That would effectively rule out Taylor from returning before the All-Star break.

Roberts said the determining factor in Taylor’s return will not be an amount of healing revealed in any follow-up scans, but Taylor’s own ability to tolerate pain.

Taylor was formally placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday and Zach McKinstry (neck) was activated.

ALSO

Left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson (elbow) also was activated from the 10-day IL. Pitcher Ryan Pepiot, who made a spot start Tuesday against the Rockies and earned his first major league win, was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move. … Closer Craig Kimbrel, who missed two games while recovering from a line drive to his back, was active Wednesday. … Andrew Heaney (shoulder) reported no issues following his bullpen session Tuesday and will throw another this week, Roberts said. … Blake Treinen (shoulder) is scheduled to throw off a mound Thursday for the second time since resuming his throwing program. … Tony Gonsolin, Tyler Anderson, Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urías will face the Chicago Cubs in that order when the Dodgers begin a four-game head-to-head series Thursday. The Cubs have only announced starters for Thursday (right-hander Mark Leiter Jr.) and Friday (right-hander Keegan Thompson).

UP NEXT

Chicago Cubs (RHP Mark Leiter Jr., 2-2, 4.85 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Tony Gonsolin, 10-0, 1.54 ERA), Thursday, 7 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM

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