With only a handful of exhibition games remaining on their schedule, injury updates and any progress, or lack thereof, is of the utmost importance for the Los Angeles Dodgers at this stage.
They are set to begin the season with Brett Anderson, Mike Bolsinger, Andre Ethier, Brandon McCarthy, Frankie Montas and Hyun-Jin Ryu. Up until the past few days, it was plausible the group would include Yasmani Grandal, Howie Kendrick and Corey Seager.
However, Seager, who was diagnosed with a left knee sprain on March 12 and projected to be held out of activities for one to two weeks, has made considerable progress in his recovery.
The promising shortstop will join the Dodgers for the Freeway Series, which begins March 31. That would leave Seager on track to be in the lineup come Opening Day on April 4 against the San Diego Padres.
Assuming Grandal is able to increase his workload as he recovers from forearm soreness, the same may hold true for the catcher. According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he expects Grandal to be with the club on Opening Day:
Grandal should be ready for Opening Day, Roberts said.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 29, 2016
An MRI of Grandal’s right forearm didn’t reveal any structural damage. He was limited in recent days to defensive work and catching bullpen sessions without throwing the ball back to the pitcher.
Grandal is batting .375/.412/.688 with one home run, two doubles and three RBIs in 17 plate appearances over eight games this spring. Meanwhile, Kendrick, as was previously said to be the case, will not join the Dodgers for the Freeway Series, and remains in jeopardy to begin the season on the DL:
Kendrick will remain in Arizona thru Freeway Series.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 29, 2016
Kendrick’s left calf strain was initially said to keep him out only a few days. He previously missed 10 days with a sore groin. Kendrick returned March 15, played back-to-back games March 15 and March 16, and in three consecutive games from March 18-20.
Kendrick is batting .261/.320/.522 with one home run, one double and two RBIs in 24 plate appearances over eight games this spring. He missed 34 games last season because of a strained left hamstring.
If the Dodgers are to place Grandal or Kendrick on the disabled list, they can backdate it to March 25 so that either player would be eligible to be reinstated April 9. However, that course of action is only possible if a player doesn’t appear in a game between March 25 and the start of the regular season.
