The Los Angeles Dodgers tore their way through July, most of August, and now are on the verge of entering the final month of the regular season. That coincides with active rosters expanding, which will aid the Dodgers in activating players off the disabled list.
Included in that group is Andre Ethier, who has yet to play for the Dodgers this season. He was bothered by back trouble during Spring Training that an MRI revealed to be an herniated disc. The injury was considered minor, but the recovery was a slow process.
Ethier’s timetable was pushed back on multiple occasions, until the Dodgers ultimately settled on an activation in September. For the past few weeks, the target date has been Sept. 1.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that is still expected to be the case, despite Ethier being saddled by a sore neck, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Roberts also said Andre Ethier, who has been on the disabled list all year with a herniated disk in his lower back, has had his rehab stint at Oklahoma City interrupted by a sore neck. Nonetheless, Roberts said Ethier will be activated when rosters expand on Friday.
Ethier began a rehab assignment Aug. 12 with High-A Rancho Cucamonga and went 2-for-8 with one RBI, one walk and four strikeouts during that time. He spent five games with Double-A Tulsa, then joined Triple-A Oklahoma City last Saturday.
Ethier started back-to-back games for Oklahoma City but has not played since Sunday. The veteran outfielder is a combined 7-for-32 with two doubles, six RBI, four walks and eight strikeouts over 10 rehab games. Included in that was a modest three-game hitting streak for the Drillers.
The 35-year-old made six starts in left field (two with each affiliate) and three in right while with Tulsa. Ethier is expected to primarily come off the bench as he looks to make an impact in September and earn a spot on the Dodgers postseason roster for a second straight year.
He went 2-for-6 with two runs scored, a home run, one RBI and one walk while appearing in seven playoff games last season as a pinch-hitter.
