Having already absorbed multiple injuries to their pitching staff, the Los Angeles Dodgers recently lost a key contributor on the position-player side as Edwin Ríos suffered a right hamstring strain.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ríos’ strained hamstring was a “Grade 3 or Grade 4 tear,” which suggests the 28-year-old may not return until some time in July or potentially after the All-Star break. For now he was placed on the 10-day injured list.
Eddy Alvarez was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma as the corresponding move and quickly made a good first impression as he delivered a game-tying RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning of his first start.
“Certainly as far as raising the floor with our depth, we’ve done that,” Roberts recently said.
“I’m just really bummed out for Eddie because last year was shortened because of the shoulder surgery and then he’s off to such a nice start. And then to now miss a handful of weeks, interrupt his season, I feel bad for him.
“But just talked to him and he’s ready to get back to work and get back.”
Upgrading the bench this past offseason was a key priority for Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, who signed Alvarez, Jason Martin, Jake Lamb and Tony Wolters, among others, to Minor League contracts.
Hanser Alberto was signed to a Major League contract, and while he has struggled at the plate this season, the versatile infielder at the very least has infused energy into the Dodgers clubhouse with his viral celebrations.
Dodgers injuries
In addition to Rios being sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Dodgers are currently without the likes of Kevin Pillar, Blake Treinen, Andrew Heaney, Tommy Kahnle and Walker Buehler.
Pillar is essentially out of the remainder of the year after undergoing shoulder surgery, while Treinen, Kahnle and Buehler won’t return until late in the season. Heaney could potentially come off the IL next week.
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