J.D. Martinez was scratched from the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for a third time in just over two weeks as he continues to deal with a left groin/adductor injury.
When Martinez was removed from games on June 23 and 30, the Dodgers said it was due to left hamstring tightness. On Tuesday, the Dodgers deemed his injury left groin/hamstring tightness.
Manager Dave Roberts has said he believes the lingering injury stems from back trouble Martinez dealt with earlier this season and at various points throughout his career.
Following the Dodgers’ win in the series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Roberts said Martinez had already flown back to Los Angeles to undergo an MRI and receive an injection that the team hopes will help the veteran avoid the 10-day injured list, via SportsNet LA:
“J.D. is doing OK. He’s going to get an MRI tomorrow morning. He flew home, so he’s landed and he’ll get one tomorrow. … I think we’ve dealt with this all year, even throughout Spring Training. I think it might be some type of shot. I don’t know what kind, so I don’t want to say. He should be down for a couple days and our expectation is he’ll be back this weekend. … Our hope is it will get him to the end of the season.”
When Martinez was scratched from the series finale against the Texas Rangers, he missed just one game before returning to the Dodgers lineup. Upon being removed against the Cincinnati Reds before his first at-bat, Martinez missed four days prior to making a pinch-hit appearance in the series opener at Petco Park.
In both instances, the 35-year-old has been at a loss over what’s caused the pain in his groin and adductor area, which renders him unable to walk or swing a bat. Martinez had an MRI last week that he said did not explain or reveal the cause of his injury.
“I borderline need somebody to carry me to my car, and then all of a sudden it’s perfectly fine,” he said.
Dodgers options if J.D. Martinez goes on IL
Should the Dodgers need to place Martinez on the 10-day IL, the most obvious candidate to fill in at designated hitter is Michael Busch.
Busch has been swinging a hot bat for Triple-A Oklahoma City and was just named Pacific Coast League Player of the Month for July.
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