Los Angeles Dodgers have two call-up options with Corey Seager on the IL

The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a huge loss on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels in their star shortstop, Corey Seager.

The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ Tuesday night loss against the Los Angeles Angels was one of the most frustrating regular season losses in recent memory. Kenta Maeda allowed five runs in the opening frame and the Angels were shutout the rest of the way.

The offense was able to secure base hits at well, even slugging three home runs. If you look at the box score, it looks like the Dodgers should have easily walked away with this one.

They didn’t. They left 15 runners on base and hit 2-13 with runners in scoring position. The team’s two hits with runners on base, both singles by Alex Verdugo, did not score a run.

More from LA Sports Hub

• Lakers: 5 Players to Target Through Trades to make another championship run
• LA Chargers: Week 8 against Denver Broncos is a must-win
• LA Rams: Jared Goff wants to keep the Los Angeles title streak going
• Lakers Rumors: Los Angeles Clippers interested in Rajon Rondo
• LA Chargers: Justin Herbert wins AFC Rookie of the Month

The first was a liner to right field that was hit too hard. Cody Bellinger had to wait to read the ball at second base and could not advance all the way home as a result. The second should have been RBI single is the one that hurt the most, though.

Verdugo again drove a ball into right field that Corey Seager should have easily scored on from second base. He didn’t, as he pulled up right before third base holding his hamstring. The initial expectation is that it is a grade two strain, which would put him out of action for four-six weeks.

This really hurts as Seager was just getting back in his groove after having Tommy John Surgery last year. The all-star shortstop was hitting .330 in his last 30 games and hit .500 in his last seven. This was the worst possible timing for Seager as he started to cement himself back as the Dodgers’ most consistent hitter.

With Seager undoubtedly hitting the IL the Dodgers are going to have some work to do. This opens an open roster spot, and looking at the 40-man roster, the team really only has two call-up options to help fill out the roster.

It would be cool to see them take a risk on Gavin Lux and add him on the 40-man roster and call him up, but the team likely does not want to stunt his progression as he is thriving in AA right now.

The first option for the Los Angeles Dodgers would be to wait it out and bring Matt Beaty back up once his stint on the injured list is over. He does not have a serious injury and has already played in some rehab games with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

Beaty can come off the IL on Thursday if he is ready and rejoin the team. If so, he would split first base duties with David Freese, moving Max Muncy to a full-time second baseman and either Enrique Hernandez or Chris Taylor as the full-time shortstops.

The other option is a bit weird but it would be the route to go if Beaty is not ready; calling Will Smith back up to the big leagues. Smith lived up to his prospect ranking in his short stint with the big league club, hitting .286 with two home runs in 21 big league at-bats.

The key here would be Austin Barnes‘ ability to play second base when needed. Barnes has 48 career games at second base and makes a fairly decent second baseman. With Hernandez and Taylor filling in at short, Barnes can become close to an everyday second baseman with Russell Martin and Smith splitting catching duties.

It is a bit unorthodox but it is the exact reason why the Los Angeles Dodgers built a deep roster that is flexible. They don’t need to bring up a middle infielder and can bend and flex however they need.