After spending the offseason assembling a pitching staff and roster with plenty of depth, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ best-laid plans have essentially been thrown by the wayside in recent weeks.
Brett Anderson will miss the next three to five months after undergoing arthroscopic surgery for a bulging disk in his back, Frankie Montas is recovering from rib resection surgery, same for Brandon McCarthy (Tommy John surgery), and Hyun-Jin Ryu hopes to return at some point in May.
Alex Guerrero has been out since March 4 due to left knee soreness, Howie Kendrick is on the mend with groin soreness and Justin Turner has yet to appear in a Cactus League game.
Guerrero was scratched yet again from the Dodgers’ lineup against the Seattle Mariners. Corey Seager became the latest infielder to be bothered by injury as he was diagnosed with a left knee sprain on Saturday.
According to J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News Group, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the injury is one that may put Seager’s availability in question for Opening Day on April 4 in San Diego:
Dave Roberts clarifies: Corey Seager will be held out of baseball activities for 1-2 weeks. His Opening Day availability is in doubt.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) March 13, 2016
Although there is some concern, Roberts said Sunday morning he’s hopeful Seager will recover in time for the start of the regular season, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Dave Roberts said he's optimistic Corey Seager will be active Opening Day.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 13, 2016
Seager played three innings before getting removed from Friday’s game. The MRI revealed the sprain and it was initially believed the recovery time was set at one to two weeks.
Assuming the prized shortstop doesn’t resume baseball activities for the next two weeks, it would only leave Seager with just over one week to get himself into physical shape for the regular season.
Seager entered camp off a difficult stretch in the offseason during which he lost an estimated 15 pounds after suffering from strep throat and having his tonsils removed. The Dodgers’ depth at shortstop behind Seager includes Kiké Hernandez and non-roster invitees Charlie Culberson and Elian Herrera.
