UPDATE (March 12, 3:30 p.m. PT): The injury bug bit the Los Angeles Dodgers yet again as Alex Wood was scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday due to left forearm tightness.
Wood joined a growing list of ailing Dodgers, though Alex Guerrero is returning as the designated hitter in the split-squad game against the Seattle Mariners. Howie Kendrick and Justin Turner remain on track to see game action next week.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers won’t have the services of Yasmani Grandal or Corey Seager in either of their contests on Saturday. Grandal is dealing with a right arm contusion and Seager a knee issue.
The prized shortstop was removed after three innings on Friday and according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, will undergo an MRI:
Seager getting MRI today on knee
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 12, 2016
Seager first felt the discomfort after rounding first base following his single:
Seager felt pain on outside of left knee while rounding first base.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 12, 2016
The Los Angeles Dodgers continued to move along with their 2016 Spring Training schedule on Friday, facing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for a second time in three days.
While the Dodgers’ starting rotation has dominated headlines with the depth quickly evaporating, the group of infielders isn’t too far behind. A significant difference, however, is the ailing infielders are all expected to return within the next week or so.
Justin Turner has yet to appear in a Cactus League game, while Alex Guerrero (knee soreness) last played on March 4, and Howie Kendrick (groin soreness) on March 5.
Turner is hoping to serve as a designated hitter on Monday, while Guerrero may see time this weekend, and Kendrick at some point next week.
In the meantime, Kendrick is expected to get at-bats on the back fields at Camelback Ranch. Los Angeles added another infielder to the list of those who aren’t quite 100 percent as Corey Seager was removed after three innings due to tightness in his leg, per Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Corey Seager came out of game as precautionary measure because of slight tightness in back of left leg.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 11, 2016
The Dodgers play split-squad games with the Chicago Cubs (home) and Seattle Mariners (Peoria) on Saturday. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts doesn’t expect Seager to play, according to DodgerTalk host David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports Radio:
Corey Seager came out of the game with left knee soreness. Dave Roberts doubts he will play in tomorrow night's game #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) March 11, 2016
Seager was 1-for-2 with a base hit prior to exiting. He also turned a 6-3 double play. Joc Pederson also had an abbreviated day as he started and hit leadoff, but was removed after the first inning for a reason that has not been disclosed.