Dodgers Injury Update: Return of Kiké Hernandez, Chris Hatcher Out for Season, and More!
The Dodgers have consistently been the most injured team in baseball, but that hasn’t stopped them from staying within 2 games of the Giants as well as leading the Wild Card race! On Sunday, a mix of news came out sending some to the DL, activating others from the DL, and keeping Clayton Kershaw somewhere in between.
The first news to drop was the activation of Kiké Hernandez for catcher Austin Barnes. Hernandez has been on a rehab assignment and has not appeared in a game in the major leagues since June 27th.
.@kikehndez activated off of DL & starts in CF against Corbin. Austin Barnes optioned to @okc_dodgers.
— AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) July 31, 2016
[graphiq id=”9eUhrlmysEl” title=”Enrique Hernandez 2016 Batting Splits by Month” width=”640″ height=”523″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/9eUhrlmysEl” link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/18418/Enrique-Hernandez” link_text=”Enrique Hernandez 2016 Batting Splits by Month | PointAfter” ]
[button color=”red” size=”big” alignment=”center” rel=”follow” openin=”newwindow” url=”https://dodgersnation.com/the-lost-art-of-keeping-score-and-why-you-should-try-it/2016/07/31/”]The Lost Art of Keeping Score and Why You Should Try It![/button]
Roberts also made it clear that he does not believe a return for Chris Hatcher is likely this year. On the year so far he has accumulated a 5.53 ERA with with 43 strikeouts in 40.2 innings pitched.
#Dodgers mgr Dave Roberts said Chris Hatcher is"unlikely" to pitch again this season. Said injury was 3rd degree oblique strain
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 31, 2016
[graphiq id=”36jwDczYaqx” title=”Chris Hatcher 2016 Monthly Pitching Splits” width=”600″ height=”494″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/36jwDczYaqx” link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/6907/Chris-Hatcher” link_text=”Chris Hatcher 2016 Monthly Pitching Splits | PointAfter” ]
Dave Roberts is also hoping for an end of the year return for pitchers Alex Wood and Frankie Montas. Both pitchers will hopefully rejoin the club as relievers.
#Dodgers targeting September returns for Alex Wood and Frankie Montas — both as relievers, Dave Roberts says.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) July 31, 2016
In other news, or rather no news, Clayton Kershaw is yet to receive a timetable. He has not made a major league start since June 26th, though he did throw a simulated game on July 17th which shut down his rehab.
No timeline still on when Kershaw will throw a baseball again. #Dodgers
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) July 30, 2016
*Update*
Bud Norris was pulled from the game on Sunday after only 13 pitches. Ross Stripling would replace him on short rest for starting pitching standards after pitching 3 innings on Wednesday. Early reports said that the cause of Norris’ exit was back muscle tightness, but it was later confirmed that it was tightness in his lat. He is expected to make his next start.
After 13 pitches, Bud Norris is out of today's game. Ross Stripling, who threw three innings Wednesday, is in on three days' rest.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) July 31, 2016
Back muscle tightness for Bud Norris. He left game in first inning, after facing 2 batters.
— AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) July 31, 2016
Norris has lat tightness but expected to make next start.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) August 1, 2016
Bud Norris described it as "kind of an achy, dead pain" in the middle of his back below shoulder blade. #Dodgers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 1, 2016
The Dodgers are gaining a great utility man in Kiké Hernandez who can play basically any position in the field and can also provide a great at bat off the bench. Unfortunately, they lose a reliever in Chris Hatcher who will hopefully be replaced by Alex Wood and Frankie Montas if all goes well. The only piece missing to complete the team is the lack of starting pitching, which a Kerhsaw return would fix! We’ve said this all year, this is not new territory so the Dodgers will continue to battle and thrive, even without their ace.
[button color=”red” size=”big” alignment=”center” rel=”follow” openin=”newwindow” url=”https://dodgersnation.com/baseball-at-the-movies-my-top-5-favorites/2016/07/30/”]Baseball at the Movies – My Top 5 Favorites[/button]
One Comment