The Dodgers might have avoided another injury blow.
Teoscar Hernández left Friday’s game against the Guardians (CLE 3, LAD 1) after a Matthew Boyd slider hit his left foot/ankle in the first inning. He tried to keep playing but couldn’t continue. Although he isn’t in Saturday’s lineup, he told reporters he aims to return by Monday or Tuesday if the pain is manageable.
Manager Dave Roberts was worried after Friday’s game: “He’s as tough as they come and he could barely move his foot. We’ll give him a couple of days to see how he comes out,” Roberts said via MLB.com. “… He doesn’t come out of games. Afterwards, the pain typically subsides for him, but it didn’t. It’s concerning.” Here is the pitch that caused the injury:
https://streamable.com/m/teoscar-hernandez-leaves-game-after-hbp?partnerId=web_multimedia-search_video-share
Hernández has been hitting .266/.331/.488 with 29 doubles and 28 home runs this season. The Dodgers signed him to a one-year, $23.5 million deal last winter, making him one of their best under-the-radar signings.
Dodgers’ Outfield Plans:
With Hernández out for a few days, Andy Pages and Tommy Edman will likely join Mookie Betts in the outfield . Kevin Kiermaier, Enrique Hernández, and Chris Taylor are also options. If Teoscar ends up on the injured list, James Outman might be called up to fill his spot.
Fans might think this news is tough since injuries seem never-ending this season.
Hernández’s injury came just hours after Gavin Stone was placed on the injured list due to shoulder inflammation; he’s been their only pitcher to start every game this season! The Dodgers are also missing Tyler Glasnow (elbow) and Clayton Kershaw (toe). However, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is expected back Tuesday after nearly three months away due to shoulder issues.
Friday’s loss put the Dodgers at 84-57, trailing behind the Phillies for baseball’s best record by one game . They hold a four-game lead over the Padres in NL West but remember—the Padres have won their season series and hold tiebreaker rights—so it’s more like a three-game lead.
The Dodgers will face off against the Padres again from Sept. 24-26 at Dodger Stadium—second-to-last series before postseason! While they’re well-positioned for playoffs, clinching that NL West title isn’t guaranteed yet.
What do you think about all these injuries? Let us know!
