Dodgers Team News

Dodgers: Dave Roberts Not Ready to Declare Corey Seager Ready for Action

The Dodgers completed an improbable come from behind win over the Giants with a clutch, pinch hit 3-run home run off the bat of Will Smith to walk it off in the 9th. The moment was heralded as “probably the biggest win of the season for us” by Chris Taylor — a sentiment echoed by Dave Roberts. However, it overshadowed a deeper concern for the ballclub.

Will Smith by all accounts was the last man standing player wise for the Dodgers. They already lost Max Muncy and Justin Turner in the game after they were each hit by former teammate and alleged friend Alex Wood in the third inning. Matt Beaty was in the game off the bench, as was Zach Reks, and Mookie Betts was unavailable, according to Roberts.



So, it’s fair to assume that the Dodgers will need some help roster wise come game time tonight. Dave mentioned that minor leaguers will be summoned to the taxi squad just in case they are needed. But there’s another option that might be knocking on the door.

Shortstop Corey Seager, who has been on the injured list since May while waiting for a broken bone on his right hand to heal. Roberts has been hesitant to set a return date for the star infielder. Most recently on Monday, he said that Wednesday is on the table.

Well, today is Wednesday.

Before Tuesday night’s win, Doc did his best to put the decision in someone else’s hands.

“Right now, I’m leaving it in the training staff’s hands,” Roberts said. “I just want the green light on the build-up, the hand, the soft tissue, feeling like when he gets out there, we can run him out there for six, seven days in a row. … There’s a lot of moving parts. But ultimately we’re just not quite there yet.”

So, in short, when Corey comes back, Dave wants him back for good.

Seager has played in only 37 of 96 games this season. When healthy, he was still searching for that MVP form displayed last year in the postseason. However, healthy or not, the Dodgers might need him now.

Like, now now.

Justin Turner will sit out of Wednesday’s action. And Max Muncy’s status is up in the air until he gets to the ballpark to tell the team if he feels good enough to play or not. On top of that, Max and his wife Kellie are expecting a baby any minute, which would immediately remove him as an option.

Whether Dave Roberts or the medical staff or whoever else like it or not, the Dodgers may have no other choice but to activate Seager as soon as possible.

NEXT: Mookie Betts Frustrated Missing Time with Injury

Clint Pasillas

Clint Pasillas has been writing, blogging, and podcasting about the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2008. Under Clint's leadership as the Lead Editor, Dodgers Nation has grown into one of the most read baseball sites in the world with millions of unique visitors per month. Find him online on Twitter/X or his YouTube channel!

7 Comments

  1. Will someone here do me a favor and inform Roberts that with having 14 pitchers and only 12 position players on the roster, that He needs access to at least the 12 players there, even if they come from taxi squad. What might have happened had Smith not hit that game winner last night? Roberts was thus out of position players due to his desire to be short on the bench and a pitcher would have had to take an AB and maybe more than that if game went into extras.

    1. Paul:

      Well, maybe there’s another option. Remember, this club does have a number of pitchers hitting better than Bellinger ; )

  2. If only we could fully trust the injury updates we are getting from the Dodgers. I understand that sometimes, injury situations are fluid, but this “Big Tease” that Seager was coming back today and Mookie was going to be ready for this series with the Giants and the news that Kershaw is likely going to be just fine but remains out indefinitely, is just frustrating as heck. I guess, it is what it is, but it makes you think that all 3 players are more seriously hurt than what is being reported (with Seager maybe experiencing another setback).

  3. We have a line up that is severely handicap. What ever is wrong with Seager it looks like a emotional issue. It only takes 5 weeks to heal bone fractures not 3 months. I give up. we will not be able to win games now. The injured list is silly. If we win tonight’s game i will eat a bug

  4. Activate Seager, at least there would be a defensive infielder, or bring someone up. Reks will not do.

  5. The Dodgers are extremely creative when it comes to juggling the IL list. Here’s a suggestion. So nobody hurts his .162 feelings, how about putting Bellinger on the shelf for 10 days. Can say it was caused by a hairball and send him to Camel Back and then AAA to “rehab” Bring him back when the early ‘19 version makes an appearance and not before

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