Charlie

Haeger

Haeger, who made one start for the White Sox earlier this season, is 12-6 with a 3.17 ERA, 134 H and 125/71 K/BB in 156 IP for Charlotte. He’s clearly earned a September callup, but there probably won’t be any starts available for him and it’s hard to imagine manager Ozzie Guillen trusting him out of the pen.

Haeger was 14-6 with a 3.07 ERA for Charlotte, but he still has trouble controlling his knuckleball while working on his regular routine. It’s doubtful that he’ll be effective while getting sporadic work out of the pen for the White Sox.

Haeger, who has a chance to be the next Brandon McCarthy for the Sox, will pitch for the LaGuaira Sharks. He’ll be joined by fellow White Sox farmhand Boone Logan.

The knuckleballer was set to participate in Boston’s minor league camp this spring but will instead begin a long process of rehabbing. Haeger was released by the Mariners in July after posting a 7.74 ERA in nine starts at Triple-A, but closed the year by going 4-1 with a 3.24 ERA in eight starts for Boston’s Double-A affiliate. The odds of him ever getting back to the big leagues are slim.

Haeger missed all of 2012 due to an elbow injury. The knuckleballer posted a 5.44 ERA over 17 Triple-A starts between the Red Sox and Mariners in 2011. He’s just organizational filler.

With Vicente Padilla sidelined and knuckleballer Charlie Haeger looking far too hittable, the Dodgers really don’t have a choice. Ely, a 26-year-old right-hander, should be avoided in all fantasy formats.

Haeger walked three and gave up hits to the other two batters he faced before being replaced by Ramon Ortiz. Ortiz was able to save the bullpen by going five, but Haeger still might lose his job so that the Dodgers can bring in a fresh arm. John Ely is the better rotation option anyway.

Carlos Monasterios is an option, but Ortiz is able to offer the Dodgers more pitches. John Ely, currently at Triple-A Albuquerque, is another candidate, although the Dodgers would have to place a pitcher on the disabled list because he was sent to the minors within the last ten days. That injury possibility could be Charlie Haeger, who has a problem in his right heel. “I haven’t talked to Charlie today, but I talked to [head trainer] Stan Conte and he’s been getting work on a heel,” Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. “We’ll visit that and see what we get going there.”

The convenient injury allows John Ely to return from Triple-A. Haeger failed to record an out during his start against the Rockies on Saturday and owns an 8.49 ERA through seven appearances (five starts) this year.

Haeger later confirmed that the heel he uses to push off the pitching rubber is “sore, tight” and a “recurring issue.” He was knocked around for five runs without recording an out in his last start, Saturday against the Rockies, and probably won’t make an appearance this week. His spot could go to rookie John Ely, who was unfairly optioned to Triple-A a few days ago.