With Spring Training coming to a close and Opening Day rapidly approaching, who the Los Angeles Dodgers will have available on April 4 in San Diego is somewhat of a mystery as position players have joined pitchers on the injury trail.
Yasmani Grandal is the most recent player to fall into that category as he’s dealing with lingering forearm soreness. Howie Kendrick is currently dealing with a left calf strain that’s kept him out of the lineup since March 22.
It’s the second time this spring Kendrick has been saddled by minor injury as he also missed time with groin soreness. Yasiel Puig is dealing with hamstring tightness that resulted in him getting scratched from Saturday’s split-squad game against the Seattle Mariners.
On a more positive note, Corey Seager is on track to return in time for the Dodgers’ 2016 season opener. However, Alex Guerrero and Kiké Hernandez are dealing with injury, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Kike Hernandez out with side pain where he was HBP last Sunday; will return soon. Alex Guerrero out since Sunday with lingering knee pain.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 27, 2016
Hernadez is expected to return Monday when the Dodgers host the Texas Rangers:
Hernandez will play in a game tomorrow.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 27, 2016
Hernandez, who was hit on his side, started two games at shortstop in the days after, but last played on Thursday. Guerrero went nine days between appearances in Cactus League games due to the left knee soreness.
He entered as a pinch-hitter on Monday and had two at-bats as the designated hitter. Outside of serving as a pinch-hitter or DH, Guerrero has exclusively played third base this spring.
