Although the Los Angeles Dodgers welcomed back Tony Gonsolin on Monday, Blake Treinen availability for the postseason remains in question, and now there is injury concern with Chris Taylor that could keep him off the National League Division Series roster.
Taylor was scratched from the Dodgers lineup on Saturday and also didn’t play in the two ensuing games because of neck tightness. He received a cortisone injection Monday and could wind up missing the remainder of the series against the Colorado Rockies.
“It just came from nowhere,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Taylor’s neck injury. “I mean, I think he had this a couple years ago, or last year. He’s not mobile, he can’t move his neck. Stiff, it hurts, it’s sore swinging the bat. So I don’t even know if Wednesday is in play.
“So I’m hopeful we can get him in there Wednesday, but if he can’t do that, then the only sample we’re going to get at that point is the live ABs.”
Roberts added he is not concerned by the possibility of Taylor potentially being limited to taking at-bats in simulated games before the NLDS begins on October 11, as it’s health that could prove to be more problematic.
“When you’re talking about the neck, there’s a lot of things. You have to be dynamic as a baseball player defensively, offensively and from what I hear, swinging hurts his neck,” Roberts said. “So there’s a lot of swinging going on, too. So I am concerned.”
During the final month of the 2021 season, Taylor missed five consecutive games from Sept. 11-15 because of neck trouble. After a scheduled day off for the team, he made a pinch-hit appearance on Sept. 17 before starting in back-to-back games.
That wound up aggravating his neck and caused Taylor to miss the next two games over a three-day span. He then played on a regular basis to finish out the season and into the playoffs.
Who would replace Chris Taylor on Dodgers postseason roster for NLDS?
If Taylor is not included on the Dodgers’ postseason roster, it could open the door for two of Hanser Alberto, Joey Gallo and Miguel Vargas.
The trio figured to be competing with each other for a final spot on the NLDS roster if Taylor is available.
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