The Los Angeles Dodgers went a few games with Cody Bellinger limited to pinch-hitting before placing him on the 10-day disabled list due to a mild right ankle sprain. Now the team finds themselves in a similar situation with Corey Seager.
He’s been held out of the lineup the past two games because of a sore right elbow. Seager asserted his elbow is 100 percent and was seen fielding ground balls, but not throwing, prior to the series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
As the Dodgers now begin a four-game series against the San Diego Padres, Roberts said the plan is still for the young shortstop to remain limited until next week, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“I’d say for Corey, through San Diego to continue to take grounders and no throwing,” Roberts said. “Probably on Monday we’ll start a little throwing program. Only seven days of not throwing; it won’t take long to build back up. Something like [the Colorado series that begins Thursday] is the way we’re mapping this out.”
In addition to only using Seager as a pinch-hitter, Roberts provided the 2016 National League Rookie of the Year with a complete day off Aug. 24, and was a designated hitter in one game against the Detroit Tigers.
In 121 games this season, Seager is batting .310/.391/.500 with 30 doubles, 19 home runs, 65 RBI, a .378 wOBA and 136 wRC+. He missed five consecutive games and six of seven due to hamstring tightness.
Even with their current, season-high five-game losing streak, the Dodgers hold a commanding lead in the National League West and still own the best record in baseball. The success has become a luxury in the sense the Dodgers have been afforded the benefit of erring on the side of caution.
That notion is furthered with active rosters expanding, beginning Friday, which should allow for Kiké Hernandez or Chris Taylor to more easily see time at shortstop in Seager’s absence.
