The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Corey Seager on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain and activated Matt Beaty prior to Thursday’s series opener against the Chicago Cubs. Seager’s IL stint is retroactive to Wednesday, June 12.
He sustained the injury while running the bases in the ninth inning of a loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Seager led off with a base hit, moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, then came up lame as he approached third base on Alex Verdugo’s single.
Seager was checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and a trainer before he was immediately removed from the game. Although the 25-year-old managed to walk off the field under his own power, any optimism he may have only experienced a cramp or quick pull was dashed.
In addressing Seager’s injury during his postgame interview, Roberts said the initial diagnosis was a “Grade 2-plus” strain. Seager was scheduled to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of his injury and a potential timetable for his return.
At minimum he figures to be sidelined for at least the next four weeks. Seager lands on the injured list while he was in the midst of a season-best nine-game hitting streak. He had five multi-hit performances and batted .459/.487/.730 with seven doubles, one home run and nine RBI during that stretch.
With Seager sidelined for the foreseeable future, the Dodgers figure to rely on a combination of Kiké Hernandez and Chris Taylor at shortstop. Though, the bulk of the opportunities may go to Taylor as Hernandez is the starting second baseman.
Beaty returns after suffering a left hip flexor strain against the Philadelphia Phillies on June 3. He started for High-A Rancho Cucamonga in two rehab games, recording two doubles and an RBI.
Beaty made his MLB debut this season and has appeared in 17 games for the Dodgers, hitting .286/.286/.310 with one double and seven RBI. Prior to suffering the injury, Beaty was receiving an increased opportunity to start.
“He’s playing more than I expected, and that’s a credit to him and the way he’s playing,” Roberts recently said of Beaty.
“As I talk about a lot, every game has the same magnitude or importance. If you perform and I feel you give us the best chance to win, you’re going to be in there. Matt, to his credit, the at-bats that he’s taken, he’s earned that.
“The thing is for me, for the most part he swings at strikes. And when he does get out of the strike zone, he has a good ability to adjust within the at-bat. Doesn’t punch much, hits velocity and uses the whole field.”
