The Los Angeles Dodgers began the season without Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill on their Opening Day roster, then shortly after lost Hyun-Jin Ryu to the 10-day injured list as well. The starting rotation has since rounded into full health, but the Dodgers have since dealt with injuries on the position player side.
Russell Martin was sidelined by lower back inflammation for two and a half weeks, and now A.J. Pollock is due to miss extended time upon undergoing surgery to remove a screw from the growth plate in his right elbow.
Furthermore, the Dodgers scratched David Freese from the lineup roughly one hour before first pitch of the series finale against the San Francisco Giants. It was in response to Freese fouling a pitch off his ankle the night prior, but the assumption was he could pinch-hit Wednesday.
Though, that sentiment was erased when Austin Barnes pinch-hit in the ninth inning with one out and runners on first and second base. Will Smith induced Barnes into a double play.
Following the Dodgers’ 3-2 walk-off loss, manager Dave Roberts confirmed Freese was not available and neither was Scott Alexander, via SportsNet LA:
“Yeah, Freese wasn’t available tonight. So we had to stay away from him. Not available to pinch-hit, obviously he was a late scratch. Alexander had a tight hamstring tonight, so we had to stay away from him. That’s kind of the way it goes. We still had our chances.”
Roberts added in his postgame remarks that Alexander would have entered the game in the bottom of the ninth. The call instead went to Julio Urias, who allowed consecutive one-out singles. He struck out Brandon Belt but was then lifted in favor of Pedro Baez.
That Roberts would opt to use another relief pitcher despite being shorthanded in the bullpen can be looked back on as somewhat of a curious decision. It was also one that didn’t pan out as Baez surrendered a walk-off RBI single to Buster Posey.
Roberts’ level of concern with the injuries seemed minimal, and with Thursday’s off day, it can be presumed Alexander and Freese will be available Friday when the Dodgers begin a three-game series with the San Diego Padres.
