J.D. Martinez had been scratched from the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup on three occasions in the past two weeks, and has since undergone treatment on his left groin/adductor.
The 35-year-old last appeared in a game for the Dodgers on August 6, and has just 10 plate appearances since July 30. Martinez was most recently penciled into the lineup against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, but got scratched due to left/groin/hamstring tightness.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts subsequently revealed that Martinez underwent an MRI and received an epidural injection, which the team hopes can alleviate the discomfort that has sidelined their All-Star designated hitter.
The Dodgers initially believed Martinez could return as early as Saturday, but it’s now the series finale against the Colorado Rockies.
“J.D. feels better. He’s going to go through stuff in the cage and get moving around,” Roberts said before Friday’s game. If that goes well, he’ll hit on the field [Saturday]. Sunday, my hope is he’ll be available to play.”
With a loose goal of Martinez being back in the Dodgers lineup on Sunday, it’s plausible he may be given another day to recover due to the team also having a scheduled off day Monday.
Martinez is batting .260/.312/.558 with 22 doubles, 25 home runs and 76 RBI over 88 games this season.
Heading into play on Thursday, Martinez is tied for 17th in Major League Baseball with 49 extra-base hits and ranks fifth overall in averaging one home run every 13.56 at-bats.
The Dodgers have opted to keep him off of the 10-day injured list during this latest bout with tricky ailments, and they’ve supplemented the DH slot with Max Muncy and Chris Taylor in the interim.
What to expect from J.D. Martinez in his return
Martinez has been a revelation for the Dodgers at DH this season, providing them with a steady, powerful force. In 2022, the team relied on platoon matchups, which put several players who were used to playing the field and hitting, in unfamiliar spots.
But with Martinez hitting for extra bases at an All-Star pace, his spot in the heart of the Dodgers lineup is key to their success in the long term. He brings a wealth of experience which the Dodgers will place directly back into the cleanup spot or five-hole, upon his return.
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