Beset by injuries dating back to Spring Training, the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t find any reprieve prior to Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Cubs. Elbow soreness is expected to force Alex Wood to the disabled list, while Kenta Maeda is dealing with a swollen throwing hand.
Wood previously suffered from left triceps soreness that delayed his scheduled start to Monday. His forthcoming DL stint is likely to coincide with prized pitching prospect Julio Urias rejoining the Dodgers for another start this wekk.
As for Tuesday’s game, the Dodgers were looking to bounce back from being held to one hit by four Chicago Cubs pitchers in the series opener. That didn’t prove to be any easy task with Chicago starting ace Jake Arrieta.
First pitch was delayed due to inclement weather, during which time Yasiel Puig was scratched from the lineup due a sore left hamstring, according to AM 570 LA Sports Radio DodgerTalk host David Vassegh:
Yasiel Puig scratched with sore left Hamstring. Crawford in at LF and Trayce Thompson in RF
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) June 1, 2016
Hamstring injuries limited Puig to a career-low 79 games last season. He was instructed by Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman to lose weight during the offseason under the idea it would help the 25 year old avoid the reoccurring issue.
Puig missed a Cactus League game in late March due to a tight hamstring. He’s batting .239/.286/.364 with four doubles, two triples, five home runs and 20 RBIs over 51 games this season.
Trayce Thompson, who was slated to start in left field, moved to right. Carl Crawford filled the vacancy in left. Puig went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Monday’s loss.