The Angeles Dodgers’ current three-game winning streak has come without Shohei Ohtani in the lineup, and on Saturday that grew to include Max Muncy and Dalton Rushing as well.
Muncy and Rushing were both late scratches from the Dodgers lineup, and there’s some uncertainty over their immediate outlooks. Meanwhile, Edwin Díaz is progressing and so too is Roki Sasaki as they each look to return from the 15-day injured list.
Dodgers injury updates
Edwin Díaz
Out since Aug. 18 because of neck inflammation, Díaz is joining Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday to start a rehab assignment. It’s not clear how long that will last, but the veteran closer likely won’t have to pitch more than a few games.
Díaz faced hitters in live batting practice on Friday. Whenever he is activated, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the right-hander will be eased back and not immediately thrust into the closer role.
Max Muncy
The Dodgers announced Muncy was scratched from the lineup against the Washington Nationals due to illness. Roberts said after the team’s 6-5 win that he wasn’t yet certain if Muncy would be available for the series finale.
“I don’t know. He didn’t do anything today, so obviously unavailable. We’ll see how he comes in,” Roberts explained.
Shohei Ohtani
Although Ohtani missed a third consecutive game, he took swings in the batting cage for the first time during that stretch. He did so without reporting any discomfort or pain.
“I’m going to see how he comes in tomorrow,” Roberts said. “It was good to see during the game he was hitting. I don’t know what intensity, but the hitting coaches said he was swinging with some intent. So we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
Dalton Rushing
Rushing was removed from Saturday’s lineup because of right elbow discomfort. It was a particularly disconcerting development when taking into account Rushing’s attempt to play through a slight tear in the UCL of his right elbow.
The Dodgers have suggested the likely outcome for this year is Rushing being limited to a pinch-hitting role, but the young catcher had been in the midst of a throwing progression.
“He was doing some early throwing today, and the elbow flared up. So we’ll kind of put a pin in throwing for now and he’ll get some imaging,” Roberts said. “But I still believe hitting is on the table. We’ll just see how it feels.”
Roberts did not rule out Rushing needing to go back on the injured list, but said such a determination would be based on the results of an MRI.
Roki Sasaki
Sasaki has kept his arm active despite dealing with a blister on the middle finger of his right hand. He too played catch before Saturday’s game and continues to make progress toward a return.
“He threw an extended bullpen [Friday]. My assumption will be we’ll use that as a start day and then figure out when he’s going to do a live situation,” Roberts said of the next step. “I would assume early next week, because obviously the calendar is starting to get close.
“I don’t see him being active early next week, so I would assume an early live session.”
The biggest development is Roberts said the Dodgers plan “as of now” is for Sasaki to return as a starting pitcher. That’s despite his postseason role likely being one out of the bullpen.
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