The Dodgers Got The Injury Bug Going Around
With the Dodgers struggling early this season on both sides of the offense, and defensive side of the ball. The Dodgers still sit on top of the NL West with the Rockies within one game back, and the Padres two games back.
As the Dodgers continue their journey for a third straight NL West title, they will have to do it with depth. While the injury bug endures the Dodgers locker room.
Los Angeles Dodgers Notable Injuries:
Carl Crawford, is day-to-day with right side tightness, but may be joining a long Dodgers disable list.
A.J. Ellis is day-to-day with a bruise right hand, and hasn’t played since the Dodgers played the Giants on April 22.
Brandon McCarthy out for the season with a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL).
Joel Peralta placed on 15-day DL on April 26 (Sore arm).
Yasiel Puig placed on 15-day DL on April 26 (Left hamstring strain).
The Dodgers are also waiting for the returns of:
Chris Withrow: recovering from June 2014 Tommy John surgery. Due back possibly midseason
Brandon League: recovering from right posterior shoulder inflammation. Due back possibly midseason
Kenley Jansen: recovering from February 2015 left foot surgery. Due back possibly mid-may.
Brandon Beachy: recovering from March 2014 Tommy John surgery. Due back possibly midseason
Hyun-jin Ryu: left shoulder tightness. Due back possibly late may.
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So, with all these injuries that plague the Dodgers, what do they do to fill in the holes?
The Dodgers went into the season with one of the best benches, and the most depth to start the 2015 MLB regular season, especially in the outfield.
As of now, the Dodgers have Andre Either taking over right field duties for Cuban sensation, Yasiel Puig. Defensive phenomenon, Joc Pederson in center field with the option of either starting Scott Van Slyke, or Alex Guerrero in left field.
Alex Guerrero the third baseman?
Yes, I’m talking about the third baseman Alex Guerrero. He’s had as hot of a bat as Adrian Gonzalez, and he has experience playing in left field, so why not?
“When a guy’s swinging the bat, you’re going to find playing time for him,” Mattingly said. “That’s just the way this game is.”
Don Mattingly even backs me up.
But even though Guerrero should be the guy to replace Carl Crawford in left field. You should also take Van Slyke into consideration as his defense in the outfield has been superb, and his hitting isn’t to shabby either, especially taking into account for how many times he’s batted. Van Slyke has a 1.182 OPS, which happens to be the best on the Dodgers, only behind who else Adrian Gonzalez, and Alex Guerrero.
Alongside the left field situation, the Dodgers have to re-tool the rest of their pitching rotation, to tag along the best one-two pitching tandems in the majors.
For the Dodgers, Brett Anderson most likely will take over the third spot on the rotation, until Ryu is healthy. With the rest of the rotation being filled in, with Scott Baker and Adam Liberatore, who both have been brought up from the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate, Oklahoma City Dodgers.
Even with the injuries the Dodgers have been dealt with, don’t expect the Dodgers to take the foot off the gas pedal.