The Los Angeles Dodgers received some disappointing news over the weekend in that Danny Duffy likely won’t be able to pitch again this year after failing to get through his recent throwing session.
One player still expected to return before the end of the regular season, however, is AJ Pollock. The 33-year-old had been in the midst of a terrific year before sustaining a Grade 2 right hamstring strain that landed him on the 10-day injured list last week.
The initial prognosis called for Pollock to miss a minimum of two or three weeks. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stuck to that timeline when providing an update and expressed confidence he would be back in the lineup by the end of September.
Pollock continues to make progress and could begin a rehab assignment in the coming days. “Prognosis has not changed,” Roberts said. “He’s increasing activity each day and we haven’t had any setbacks, which is fantastic.
“He’s not going to go with us to Cincinnati. He’ll stay back and the hope is to get him in some games the next four or five days, and we’ll see where it goes from there.”
Roberts noted those would be simulated games for Pollock, who then is expected to report to Camelback Ranch for additional work.
While the Dodgers collectively have been swinging a better bat of late, getting Pollock back in the next week or two would certainly be a boon. In 107 games this season, he is batting .297/.352/.861 with 16 home runs and 58 RBI.
With Pollock sidelined for the time being, Gavin Lux presumably will continue getting regular at-bats in left field. He was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City last Friday and has started four consecutive games at the position.
Dodgers nearing decision on Taylor
As Pollock nears the start of a rehab assignment, the Dodgers may soon lose another key contributor in Chris Taylor to the IL. He has been held out of the lineup since Saturday due to a neck injury and will be reevaluated later this week.
“He’s doing OK,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Taylor. “I think when we get to Wednesday we’ll probably have to make a decision on the IL. I don’t think he’ll be available [Monday] and unlikely [Tuesday]. We’ll probably make a decision on Wednesday with what we do.”
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