On the same day the Los Angeles Dodgers placed Justin Turner on the 10-day disabled list due to a strained right hamstring, the team may have lost Yasiel Puig for a period of time.
Puig was removed after four innings on Friday night due to lower/mid-back tightness. He grabbed at his lower back in apparent pain while drawing a walk in the bottom of the fourth. Puig was checked on and remained in the game.
His time on the bases was short lived and rather harmless, as Brett Eibner followed with a two-run home run.
Joc Pederson replaced Puig in the lineup, but in center field. Eibner shifted over to right field to replace Puig. He went 0-for-1 with the one walk prior to the early exit.
While Puig’s struggled to remain over the past two seasons, a potential back injury is different than the recurring hamstring trouble that’s saddled him. Puig entered the night batting .245/.319/.435 with four doubles, eight home runs and 24 RBI.
If the Dodgers are to need an outfielder, Trayce Thompson or Scott Van Slyke may return from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Van Slyke was optioned back to OKC on Thursday in the corresponding roster move to reinstating Adrian Gonzalez.
