Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Alex Guerrero was scheduled to start at third base Monday morning in the team’s B game against the Chicago White Sox, then serve as be the designated hitter in the Cactus League contest against the Milwaukee Brewers, but he was scratched from the B game.
It marked the second time in three days week that Guerrero was scratched from a game, as he was also removed from Saturday’s lineup against the Seattle Mariners.
The 29-year-old Cuban native has been dealing with lingering soreness in his left knee that’s largely forced him out of action. Up until Sunday when he was used as a pinch-hitter, Guerrero had not appeared in game since March 4.
According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Daily News, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is not worried about Guerrero’s bothersome knee, considering the weeks remaining until the regular season starts:
“I think we’re pretty confident that he’s going to be fine long-term,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Saturday. “Whether that means tomorrow or five days from now it’s tough to say. He’s basically at that last mile where he’s hitting and taking ground balls. It’s just, opening it up in a straight line, he’s felt it a little bit. We have time right now. He’s seeing pitching. We’ll just be smart about it on the front.”
While Guerrero has yet to return in the field, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Guerrero will almost exclusively play third base throughout Spring Training.
Although Guerrero logged 29 games in left field last season, he also played 22 at third base. It’s a position Los Angeles first tried him at last spring, with the Cuban native proving to be serviceable.
Guerrero got off to a hot start last season, as he batted .423/.429/1.077 with five home runs and 13 RBIs in April. However, he slowed down considerably after the first month of the regular season, batting just .207/.238/.347 with six home runs and 23 RBIs.
Guerrero will look to return to his April 2015 form, as he faces an uphill battle to crack the Dodgers’ depth chart at any position.
