The Los Angeles Dodgers played their first doubleheader of the season on Saturday at AT&T Park against the San Francisco Giants, earning a 15-6 blowout victory in the first game but then falling 8-3 in the nightcap.
It was all hands on deck considering they played 18 innings, with top outfield prospect Alex Verdugo even being called up and starting in right field in the second game. Yasiel Puig left the afternoon affair due to hip and foot trouble.
One notable player was absent from both games though, as utilityman Kiké Hernandez did not make an appearance in either of the two games.
After the Dodgers’ loss, it was revealed that he missed the games due to illness and his status for Sunday’s series finale is still up in the air, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
#Dodgers Kike’ Hernandez came in with chills, flu-like symptoms today. Was unavailable for both games. TBD tomorrow
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 29, 2018
Hernandez has been swinging a hot bat as of last, hitting .421/.522/.895 with two home runs in his last eight games played, so the Dodgers could have certainly used him at some point during the day.
The severity of Puig’s injury is unknown, but if he is forced to go on the disabled list then Hernandez could be in for extended playing time in the outfield with Matt Kemp also dealing with a minor quad injury.
The Dodgers are currently in the midst of an 11-game road trip, their longest of the season. From San Francisco they head to Arizona for a series with the Diamondbacks, then to Mexico, where they will play the San Diego Padres.
