The Los Angeles Dodgers hope to have Freddie Freeman in their lineup for Game 5 of the National League Division Series, but Miguel Rojas isn’t expected to play in the winner-take-all matchup against the San Diego Padres.
“I don’t see Miggy available for Game 5,” manager Dave Roberts said during the Dodgers’ workout on Thursday. “Maybe to pinch-hit.”
Rojas spent multiple weeks playing through a torn left adductor muscle during the regular season. He aggravated the injury on Sept. 25 and missed the Dodgers’ final four games.
Rojas spent the bye week leading up to the start of the NLDS receiving treatment and confident he would be able to play through the injury. That changed in Game 3, when the veteran shortstop exacerbated his torn adductor on an attempt to turn a double play and when running the bases.
He was nearly immediately ruled out from playing Game 4, which Freeman also missed because of his sprained right ankle.
Tommy Edman started at shortstop and Chris Taylor was inserted into center field.
After the Dodgers staved off elimination with a shutout win at Petco Park, Rojas expressed hope of returning for Game 5 but acknowledged that was far from a guarantee because of the severity of his injury.
“I can’t tell you right now, because today I didn’t have a good day. Let’s see how I wake up [Thursday]. I’m going to try to go through baseball activities and make myself available for Game 5,” Rojas said at the time.
“Today was a lot of pain. Remember, I already know what I have. I have a torn muscle in my hip, so I’m going to have to get it repaired after the season is over. I’m playing under medication and a lot of things, but that’s not an excuse. I’ll just try to make myself available for Game 5 and try to go from there.”
Miguel Rojas takes blame
In addition to re-aggravating his adductor injury, Rojas attempting to turn a 6-3 double play rather than toss the ball to Gavin Lux at second base cost the Dodgers an out.
“I made a decision there that hurt me and hurt the team at the time,” he said. “Unfortunately, I have to deal with the consequences now.”
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