The Los Angeles Dodgers took a lead in the first inning on Saturday and never relinquished it in a 6-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants, but they lost AJ Pollock early due to a Grade 2 right hamstring strain.
Pollock hit a two-out RBI double in the first inning, but then was caught taking too aggressive of a lead off second base and thrown out in a rundown. He slid awkwardly into third base and immediately grabbed at his right hamstring area before limping off the field.
“I don’t want to speculate,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts initially said when asked for a prognosis and timetable with Pollock.
“I know that it wasn’t good and obviously it’s a huge loss in any capacity. From what I’m hearing early on, it’s a Grade 2 strain. This is two, three weeks at minimum. We’ve just got to see how he feels [Sunday], but I think at the minimum it’s going to be a couple weeks.”
If Pollock is to miss upwards of three weeks that would leave him roughly a handful of games to get back into a rhythm as the Dodgers look to begin what they hope will be another World Series run.
The 33-year-old previously missed three weeks this season because of a left hamstring strain he initially attempted to rest and then play through.
Pollock is batting .297/.352/.861 with 16 home runs and 58 RBI this season, which has been his best since earning an All-Star Game selection with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015.
“He’s been a linchpin for our club. Offensively, defensively, on the bases, the consistency of at-bat versus right and left,” Roberts recently said. “I don’t want to imagine where we’d be without him. He’s got big hit after big hit, he posts and plays. He’s all-in.”
How Dodgers replace Pollock
Pollock’s injury figures to keep Cody Bellinger in the lineup on a regular basis, just like when the club was without Mookie Betts for a second time because of right hip inflammation being caused by a bone spur.
However, Trea Turner views picking up the slack with Pollock out as a collective effort.
“It stinks. Since I’ve been here he’s hit the ball really, really well. He’s gotten some clutch hits for us, so it’s going to be a blow,” Turner said. “I always say next man up, and that’s why you have a deep team. The next guy can step in and you don’t miss a beat.
“Hopefully he can come back as quick as possible, healthy and continue to do what he’s been doing to make a good run at it for the rest of the year. But we’re going to have to figure out ways to replace him for now, and that’s on each and every one of us.”
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