The Los Angeles Dodgers have held Chris Taylor out of the lineup since Saturday due to a neck injury he had been playing through for at least one week.
The team is hoping that a few days of rest would allow the 31-year-old to avoid a trip to the 10-day injured list, but it has not been ruled out.
Taylor will sit out two more games before the club reevaluates his status leading into Wednesday.
“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.”
If the Dodgers do decide to place Taylor on the IL, it could be backdated to Sunday.
This season, Taylor has been one of the Dodgers’ most important players, hitting .258/.346/.450 with a 118 wRC+ and being named to his first All-Star Game.
However, since Aug. 1, Taylor has struggled at the plate to a .187/.261/.309 slash line and 57 wRC+.
“He’s a glue guy and an All-Star. Even when he’s not swinging the bat the way he’s capable of, he still finds a way to help you win,” Roberts recently said about Taylor’s injury.
“He’s been battling this neck thing but he’ll never make excuses. I trust him as a ballplayer.”
It is unclear if the injury has been affecting Taylor’s performance for that long, but some time off could do the star utility player some good.
Roberts confident Bellinger can salvage season
Although almost nothing has gone right on the field for former National League MVP Cody Bellinger,Roberts believes he can turn the season around by continuing to work hard and making sure he doesn’t chase stats.
“I think the No. 1 thing is a reset as far as where we’re at in September and make this his season,” Roberts said. “I think when you try to chase numbers to salvage a season, statistically, that can be hard and a toll.
“Continue to work, which he’s working tirelessly, and just try to come in fresh to help us win a ballgame. Even [against the Giants], we’re probably down a couple more runs if he doesn’t make that play in center field early in the game. Just keep doing whatever he can to help us win a ballgame.”
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