Not lost in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 12-5 blowout victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks was Corey Seager’s long-anticipated return to the field in regular-season action.
Thursday marked the 24-year-old’s first meaningful game in 11 months, and he didn’t miss a beat, accounting for one of the Dodgers’ MLB-record eight home runs on Opening Day.
Seager additionally logged six defensive innings at shortstop before being removed by manager Dave Roberts in the top of the seventh for rest purposes.
Roberts revealed that his initial plan for Seager is to give him a day off after playing in three consecutive games, via SportsNet LA:
“Obviously, we’re talking about workload, how he feels day-to-day. I’m assuming it’s going to go well, but I think right now, probably that Sunday — day game after a night game — he’ll be down. So that’s three on, one off, three on, and then with the off day (Thursday). We’ll kind of go from there.”
While the initial plan was to have Seager in the lineup through Saturday night, playing 13 innings against the Diamondbacks could change matters. If the Dodgers were to adjust their thinking, Seager could play Sunday through Tuesday, then have back to back days off Wednesday and Thursday.
Roberts recently deemed it is vital for Seager to remain on the field this season, but the club also doesn’t want him to feel pressure to carry the team.
