Hanser Alberto was out of the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for each of the past two games they faced a left-handed starter, which was a change from how the team has utilized him.
“Hanser has had a knee issue, so he got a little something in his knee to alleviate some of the pain,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed prior to the series finale against the San Diego Padres.
“So we were going to stay away from him for three days or something like that. He’s available in an emergency. That’s kind of where we’re at with Hanser.”
Alberto last appeared in a game on June 28, when he was in the lineup against the Colorado Rockies’ Kyle Freeland. He went 1-for-3 with a home run in the Dodgers’ 7-4 loss at Coors Field.
Prior to that, Alberto last started June 25 when the Dodgers faced Max Fried and the Atlanta Braves.
Roberts added the injection Alberto received was “some type of pain relief.”
It’s unclear when Alberto was administered the shot, though Monday’s matchup offered some insight as he returned to the lineup with the Dodgers facing Freeland in their Fourth of July game at Dodger Stadium.
Alberto has hit .255/.255/.333 with one double, one home run and two RBI across 51 plate appearances against left-handed pitching this season.
Dodgers lineup changes
While Mookie Betts remained in the leadoff spot of the Dodgers lineup upon coming off the 10-day injured list, there was a change behind him as Trea Turner hit second and Freddie Freeman batted third.
Betts has long expressed he’s most comfortable leading off, but Roberts also relayed that Turner and Freeman preferred being flipped in the batting order.
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