As the Los Angeles Dodgers remain without their expected starting middle infield, Mookie Betts and Tommy Edman both are looking to overcome small challenges in their respective recoveries, while Brock Stewart is making progress toward a return.
When Edman began the season on the 10-day injured list because of surgery on his right ankle, it came with an estimate he would not be activated until late May. Meanwhile, Betts’ right oblique strain was projected to sideline him for multiple weeks but not necessarily keep him out for the typical timeline associated with that injury.
Stewart is the further along amongst the three, as his rehab assignment is now being completed with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Injured Dodgers
Mookie Betts
Although Betts reported feeling some discomfort in his oblique when running, he has progressed to the point of taking swings.
“Mookie’s feeling good. He’s getting anxious,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I didn’t really go into what he did as far as progression, but yeah, he’s getting anxious, and I had a brief conversation with him in the dugout.”
The Dodgers put Betts on the 10-day injured list April 5. Roberts said at the time he believed Betts would return before the general timetable of four to six weeks. Betts echoed a similar sentiment but Sunday now represents three weeks, and he still would need to potentially complete a rehab assignment before returning.
Tommy Edman
Edman started increasing the intensity in his running earlier this month but it caused some soreness and prompted the Dodgers to pull back on the progression.
“Yeah, there was some progress, and then he got sore about a couple weeks ago, so then we stood down a little bit and tried to maintain the running progression and not build it up,” Roberts explained. “Where he’s at today? I’m not sure. I feel that from talking to him, he feels like he’s in a good spot.
“But we haven’t really pushed him as far as arcs and running the bases yet.”
Roberts added it’s not yet clear when Edman will again take at-bats against live pitching. He did so when Blake Snell was at that point in his own rehab process two weeks ago.
“Still again, it’s probably end of May, beginning of June, something like that,” Roberts said of Edman’s return.
Brock Stewart
Stewart made two appearances for Single-A Ontario at the beginning of his rehab assignment and now has pitched twice with the Comets.
“Brock has to go back-to-back,” Roberts said of the next step. “So you’re probably looking at a couple days down, and then do a back-to-back at the end of next week. And then at that point in time, it’ll be a real conversation.”
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