In some unspecified time in the future, the Dodgers hope, they are going to be capable to subject a completely wholesome lineup.
A late scratch on Wednesday to catcher Will Smith, nonetheless, meant it must wait a minimum of a pair extra days.
Regardless of activating Tommy Edman from the injured record pregame, and continuing to brush the Colorado Rockies with a 9-0 win that stretched their Nationwide League West result in three video games, the Dodgers had been left coping with one other damage headache Wednesday, eradicating Smith from the beginning lineup simply quarter-hour earlier than first pitch after swelling developed across the bone bruise he has been coping with in his proper hand.
“Not overly concerned,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned of Smith’s standing, “but we’ve got to get that swelling under wraps.”
Smith’s absence hardly hampered the Dodgers of their fourth straight win.
Their lineup exploded for 4 runs within the second inning and 5 within the eighth behind an enormous night time from Mookie Betts, who continued his current tear with a four-for-five, five-RBI efficiency that included a run-scoring double early and a grand slam to place issues away late. Betts is on a 16-game on-base streak, has a number of RBIs in 5 straight contests, and is batting .352 with seven house runs and 26 RBIs over his final 32 video games.
Behind the plate, Ben Rortvedt crammed in to catch Blake Snell’s scoreless six-inning, 11-strikeout begin, which continued a dominant run from a Dodgers’ rotation that now has a 1.18 ERA during the last six video games.
And due to a loss earlier within the day by the San Diego Padres, the workforce grew its lead atop the division for a second day in a row, successfully taking a 3-½ recreation NL West lead (when accounting for its head-to-head tiebreaker over San Diego) with 16 video games to play.
“That was a big home series sweep, to get us going … get us moving in the right direction,” Snell mentioned. “All of us have been looking forward to getting it going. This was a really good step.”
But, after activating Max Muncy off the injured record Monday, and welcoming Edman again into the fold Wednesday afternoon, the Dodgers had been lastly on the verge of getting a full-strength squad for the primary time since early July.
As an alternative, they had been reminded of the tenuous actuality of their oft-injured roster — and the issue of making an attempt to handle Smith’s hand specifically.
It had solely been per week since Smith first obtained damage, when a foul ball in Pittsburgh ricocheted off his dangling throwing hand behind the plate and left him with a bone bruise that sidelined him till Tuesday — although didn’t require an injured record stint. Smith had appeared OK in his return that night time, lining a double in his first at-bat whereas serving to Emmet Sheehan carry an ideal recreation into the sixth. He was again within the unique lineup the Dodgers posted Wednesday, as they sought a collection sweep over the 106-loss Rockies.
The problem, it appeared, could be behind him.
However then, when the Dodgers emerged from the dugout Wednesday night time, it was Rortvedt who went to squat behind house plate.
“Literally 15 minutes before the game, as he’s getting ready, his hand started to swell up,” Roberts mentioned. “After [his pregame] hitting, getting dressed, getting ready for the game, that’s when it started to show itself. He tried to get out there and throw. It just didn’t respond well.”
After Smith first obtained damage, Roberts cautioned his damage may linger for the remainder of the season. After Wednesday, he mentioned the workforce would monitor Smith on Thursday’s off day — and doubtlessly ship him for an MRI — then determine on Friday whether or not he’ll play on this weekend’s collection opener in San Francisco.
“We’ve got to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Roberts mentioned.
Miguel Rojas slides house to attain a run within the second inning.
(Eric Thayer / For The Instances)
Smith’s hand received’t be the one damage the Dodgers (82-64) must handle down the stretch.
Whereas Edman returned from an ankle damage that had plagued him all yr, and sidelined him since its personal flare-up on Aug. 3, Roberts mentioned pregame he was nonetheless curious to see how the utilityman appeared.
Edman slotted in middle subject on Wednesday — the place he tracked down a fly ball on the sport’s first pitch — and can possible see most of his taking part in time there for a minimum of the foreseeable future. Roberts famous that, in contrast to earlier this yr when Edman was primarily restricted to infield duties, the short reactions required at second base could be more durable on his ankle now.
“Getting off the ball is something I’m going to be really mindful of watching,” Roberts mentioned of Edman. “Once he gets to full speed, it’s a lot easier [to decide what he can handle].”
With Edman in middle, the Dodgers additionally ran out a brand new outfield alignment, with Andy Pages transferring to left subject and Michael Conforto dropping to the bench.
Roberts mentioned Conforto will nonetheless see taking part in time towards right-handed pitchers (the Rockies began left-hander Kyle Freeland on Wednesday). He additionally didn’t shut the door on finally flipping Pages (who had three hits Wednesday, together with an RBI double within the second to open the scoring) and Teoscar Hernández (who went deep within the eighth for his third house run within the final two nights) within the corners, although famous he’s holding Hernández in proper for now due to his improved defensive play in current weeks.
“Teo played the season last year in left field, so we’ve shown that we can win a championship with him in left field,” Roberts mentioned. “Not quite there yet, but thinking about it.”
Regardless of the transferring items, all of it introduced the Dodgers nearer to the lineup they envisioned having at first of this season, the one they’ve floundered with offensively (coming into the night time ranked simply twenty sixth within the majors in scoring since July 4) whereas taking part in with out.
“I think that we’ve all been waiting for our guys to come back to health and see what we look like,” Roberts mentioned.
Nonetheless, they received’t be at full power once more till Smith is. Wednesday was a reminder that his well being stays unsure.
Subsequent steps for Sasaki
After his much-improved rehab outing with triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis on Tuesday, Roki Sasaki was en route again to Los Angeles on Wednesday to satisfy with membership officers about what his subsequent steps might be.
Roberts mentioned that would embrace discovering the rookie right-hander, who lastly rediscovered his 100-mph fastball Tuesday after missing velocity and battling a shoulder damage beforehand this yr, a possibility to start out a big-league recreation for the primary time since April. Or, doubtlessly pitching out of the bullpen, which is how the 23-year-old would possible be used if he had been to be included on the postseason roster.
Earlier than that latter situation may turn out to be actuality, after all, the Dodgers might want to see Sasaki have some kind of success again within the majors, the place he had a 4.72 ERA in eight begins in the beginning of the season earlier than occurring the IL.
Nonetheless, Roberts described Sasaki’s rehab outing on Tuesday as “great for the Dodgers, great for Roki’s confidence, great for the organization.
“Mostly it was great for Roki,” Roberts added. “Just to really let it eat, let it fly, have some success and know that he can be the guy that he’s known to be.”
