The Los Angeles Dodgers have fought injuries all season and may have picked up another with only a handful of games remaining on their schedule as Gavin Lux was removed in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s game.
Lux attempted to make a running catch in center field but had the ball pop out of his glove moments before crashing into the fence at full speed. The RBI double gave the Padres a 6-5 lead and five unanswered runs.
Lux was able to sit up but continued to rub his right eye and grab at his right shoulder and neck area while being checked on by a Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and trainer Yosuke “Possum” Nakajima.
Roberts indicated Lux sustained a neck stinger on the play. “I think it’s kind of sit tight. Hopefully he wakes up and it’s not too stiff or too sore,” Roberts said of the initial outlook.
“Typically it’s a couple day thing, so we’ll see. We don’t know until we see how he wakes up. That’s kind of what this game is, guys have to pick each other up. Cody in that specific spot picked us up.”
Lux eventually rose to his feet and walked slowly off the field, which brought in Cody Bellinger. He just returned from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday, a stint that was required because of suffering a non-displaced fracture in his left ribs after colliding with Lux.
Roberts indicated this week the club had not yet decided on whether Bellinger or Lux would be the starting center fielder moving forward.
Lux had been on a tear since getting recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. He initially made starts in left field before sliding over to center upon AJ Pollock returning from a Grade 2 right hamstring strain.
Lux fortunately wound up avoiding serious injury and only dealt with residual soreness and stiffness in his neck.
Lux gaining confidence
The Dodgers had already envisioned Lux playing a utility role after trading for Trea Turner, but expanding to the outfield was a new development. That held particularly true for center field, where Lux had never played until making a start at the position for OKC earlier this month.
Now being entrenched in center for the Dodgers, Lux has steadily gained confidence and received advice from Mookie Betts.
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