Cody Bellinger was removed after six innings on Saturday with a mild right ankle sprain and is considered day-to-day. Bellinger made a leaping catch on the warning track in right field and rolled his foot moments before leaving the ground.
Bellinger was checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and head athletic trainer Nate Lucero prior to initially remaining in the game. Bellinger continued to limp around between Ross Stripling pitches before the third out of the inning was recorded.
“Honestly, I’m glad it was my ankle, not my Achilles or my knee,” Bellinger said during his postgame interview that aired on Spectrum SportsNet LA. Roberts said he expects Bellinger to be available Sunday “in some capacity.”
Yasiel Puig pinch-hit for the Dodgers rookie, who finished the afternoon 0-for-2 with one strikeout. The start in right field was only Bellinger’s third this season.
He figured to see more playing time in the outfield in the wake of Adrian Gonzalez returning from the 60-day disabled list.
That initially was expected to come in left field, but the Dodgers’ trade for Curtis Granderson may result in Bellinger moving throughout the outfield more than believed. Of course, the 22-year-old should still make the bulk of his starts at first base.
Bellinger entered the day batting .275/.357/.616 with 19 doubles, 34 home runs and 79 RBI. He’s one homer shy of matching Mike Piazza’s Dodgers rookie record, and has appeared in every game since joining the Dodgers on April 25.
