With their first off-day of Spring Training in the books, the Los Angeles Dodgers return to action Friday night at Camelback Ranch against the Texas Rangers. While Los Angeles was expecting multiple players back in the lineup, some battling with injury remain sidelined.
Justin Turner is starting at third base for the first time since receiving a lubricating injection in his knee. However, Andre Ethier, Corey Seager and Andrew Toles are not in the lineup.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had previously indicated Seager was likely to return from back tightness on Friday. The timeline was pushed back from earlier in the week, so that the club could take advantage of a day off.
On Friday, Roberts provided a minor update on Seager, who is now dealing with some oblique tightness, according to Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times:
Corey Seager's tight back is "oblique-ish," according to Dave Roberts. Condition is said to have improved but still no date set for return.
— Dylan Hernandez (@dylanohernandez) March 10, 2017
While Roberts is uncertain of Seager’s return date, the second-year manager maintained his shortstop continues to improve, per Eric Stephen of True Blue LA:
Dave Roberts on Corey Seager: "I don't know when he's going to be back in the lineup, but I know every day he's getting better."
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) March 10, 2017
Seager is 0-for-5 with one walk and one strikeout in three Cactus League games thus far. He last played on Friday, March 3. That was after missing a stretch of games due to sustaining a bruised shin after fouling a pitch off. Seager was sent for X-rays, which came back negative.
The 22-year-old recently downplayed his back issue, noting the amount of time remaining in Spring Training. The Dodgers open the 2017 season on April 3.
Dealing with a minor injury during the spring isn’t new to Seager, who missed time last year because of a mild left knee sprain.
