Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Franklin Gutierrez lasted all of three outs in Sunday’s series finale against the Chicago Cubs. He was removed due to illness, as relayed by Alanna Rizzo on the Spectrum SportsNet LA broadcast.
There was some though Gutierrez may have suffered an injury on Kris Bryant’s flyball into shallow left field. It was the Cubs’ second broken-bat hit on as many pitches from Clayton Kershaw in the game. Gutierrez was pinch-hit for by Yasiel Puig, who remained in the game in right field, moving Brett Eibner to left.
The start was Gutierrez’s 10th of the season and first since May 19. He began the day batting .265/.342/.441 with three doubles, one home run and three RBI in 38 games.
Gutierrez was placed on the disabled list April 12, retroactive to the day prior, and didn’t return from a left hamstring strain until May 2. Shortly after returning, he was removed from a game against the San Diego Padres because of hip tightness.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts later called the injury more of a hip pointer, though Gutierrez managed to avoid the disabled list.
The Dodgers signed the veteran outfielder during the offseason as a means to improve on their production agains left-handed pitching.
Gutierrez has battled a multitude of injuries throughout his 12-year career. Included in that was missing the entire 2014 season after being diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a condition that still affects him.
