Dodgers: Everything we know about Corey Seager’s injury

As a dream season has turned into a nightmarish fortnight for the Dodgers, the news about Corey Seager may be another sign of an imminent, ominous October exodus.

The Dodgers rested the stalwart shortstop on August 24th, during what appeared to be a scheduled day off. Manager Dave Roberts has continued the strategy first implemented in Chavez Ravine by former manager Don Mattingly by giving players intermittent rest days.

The off-day was seen at the time as a normal machination by the team with a 90-36 record, by far the best in baseball. Seager had three hits the day prior and raised his season average to .311 at that point, further cementing himself as one of the premier shortstops in baseball.

Seager appeared in the lineup the following three nights, nabbing four singles in 12 at-bats. However, Seager was relegated to pinch-hitting duty on August 29 and 30 and has only appeared once in the six subsequent contests. On September 1st, L.A. Times writer Andy McCullough indicated that there were “problems” with Corey Seager’s right elbow, though he indicated that the rest was per advisement of the team’s medical staff, and downplayed the severity.

More worrisome, is that Bill Shaikin reported on September 4th that the Dodgers “would have a better chance” at shutting down Seager completely for the season were they not in the midst of a playoff run.

Seager, who throws right-handed and bats left-handed, claims that he can hit without discomfort, though he is experiencing swelling and inflammation in the elbow. Though the Dodgers are being scant with detail at this point, it is speculated that there may be bone chips or a bone spur that may be causing the discomfort. In either case, Seager acknowledged that surgery is a possibility in the offseason. “It’s probably something in the offseason I’ll have to address more,” Seager said.

The Dodgers are 1-7 without Seager in the lineup since the discomfort was first acknowledged, underscoring the importance of the 23-year old to the ball club. Seager resumed a throwing program Monday, September 4th but is still not close to one hundred percent.

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He is targeting this weekend’s series with the Colorado Rockies for a return, which would mark two weeks from the time his name was omitted due to something other than scheduled rest.

Seager is hitting .309 with 19 home runs and 65 RBI on the season, and the Dodgers have utilized Kiké Hernandez, Charlie Culberson and Chris Taylor in his stead to man the position.

If Seager is to have surgery, it would be during the offseason and CBS Sports reports that he would be able to return in time for Spring Training. As far as Dodgers fans are concerned, Seager needs to be as healthy as possible during the pennant chase, as the Diamondbacks have already sliced seven games off of the Dodgers western division lead.

Seager was third in the 2016 National League MVP voting, and though he does not appear to be in the running this year, the Dodgers’ struggles in his absence are a testament to the value he provides the team on a day-to-day basis.