Prior to the Los Angeles Dodgers suffering a fourth loss in six games on their homestand, they saw J.D. Martinez and Will Smith removed early from the series finale against the Cincinnati Reds due to respective injuries.
That added to the Dodgers already being without Mookie Betts for a second consecutive game because of right ankle soreness.
Martinez was in the Dodgers lineup on Sunday but didn’t take an at-bat before he was pinch-hit for by Chris Taylor. The Dodgers announced Martinez was removed from the game due to left hamstring tightness.
Smith was hit by a pitch in his lone plate appearance. He was on deck to bat in the bottom of the third inning, but replaced by Austin Barnes at the start of the fourth.
The Dodgers said Smith was removed because of a left elbow contusion.
Dodgers injuries
Mookie Betts
Betts suffered his right ankle injury in the series opener against the Reds as a result of quickly moving out of the way to avoid being hit by a pitch. Betts was originally in the lineup on Saturday before being scratched and given a second day of rest.
“He’s progressing,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday. “I think for me, just looking at where he’s at, it’s day-to-day. Could he play? Certainly.
“With an off day tomorrow, is it more beneficial to potentially give him three days off? Absolutely. We’ve got a long stretch coming and a lot of baseball left. So for me, my decision, I felt it was a no-brainer to give him an extra day. Is he available off the bench? I’ll make that decision when the time comes.”
J.D. Martinez
Martinez has twice dealt with left hamstring tightness over the past week. He was scratched from the lineup July 23 and missed one game before returning.
However, it now appears Martinez might be headed for a stint on the 10-day injured list.
“With J.D., it’s kind of the thing he had a week ago right before the day game when he couldn’t go. Something with the groin area, so I’m sure the back is connected, hips, all that kind of stuff,” Roberts said.
“He couldn’t run, really couldn’t swing a bat. He’s getting a test right now.”
Will Smith
Although Smith initially remained in the game after being hit by a pitch, he dealt with some numbness in his left elbow.
“Right when it happened it didn’t feel good. Just kind of a nervy feeling, sore and stuff,” Smith explained. “Swinging was a little tough, so before that next at-bat, I had to come out.”
X-rays on Smith’s left elbow were negative, and he anticipates being in the Dodgers lineup on Tuesday.
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