Dodgers Injury Update: Yasiel Puig Out of Lineup, Kiké Hernandez Rehab Assignment, and More!

The latest Dodger to fall to injuries was Yasiel Puig, who was pulled from last Thursday’s game with tightness in his right hamstring. This was concerning because Puig had been out earlier in the year with a similar issue affecting his left hamstring. Surprisingly, it is pretty hard to play with two injured hamstrings.

On Sunday, Roberts announced that the DL would be a possibility if Yasiel Puig had not improved enough by Tuesday to make the starting lineup. Well, Tuesday is here and there is still no Puig in the lineup.

Puig out of #Dodgers lineup for 5th consec game
Utley 2B
Seager SS
Turner 3B
Gonzalez 1B
Kendrick LF
Grandal C
Toles RF
Pederson CF
Norris P

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 26, 2016

Yasiel Puig is out again. Don't be surprised if he is retroactively placed on the disabled list. https://t.co/bVdOpLUHzY

— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) July 26, 2016

Though no official statement has been released, it is highly likely that Puig will find himself back on the disabled list, leaving the Dodgers with Andrew Toles and Scott Van Slyke to take over in right field.

Along with Puig being sidelined, Kiké Hernandez has not played in a major league game for the Los Angeles Dodgers since June 27 vs. Pittsburgh, but Monday night marked a huge step in his return to Dodger blue. The Dodgers utility player was in uniform for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the Dodgers’ Minor League Affiliate as the team took on the Inland Empire 66ers. The Quakes won the game 12-1, but Hernandez did not have an impact in the outcome. Hernandez finished the game 1-for-4 in his first action in quite some time, which included a single in the third inning.

Kiké Hernandez pops up to right field in his first ab.

0-0 B1, 2 out

— Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (@RCQuakes) July 26, 2016

KIKÉ ?

Hernandez with a 1-out base knock in the 3rd

— Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (@RCQuakes) July 26, 2016

On the disabled list since June 27, Hernandez still has some strides to make as he will continue his stint with the Quakes on Tuesday night, the team announced. In 65 games this season, Hernandez has a .189 batting average, five home runs, and 12 RBI, while playing six different positions with the Dodgers.

In other news, Andre Ethier was caught taking early batting practice today at Dodger Stadium. Earlier in July, after receiving scans to see if his injury was healed, it was announced that Ethier would likely not be coming back in August like he had hoped.

Today is the first day Andre Ethier has taken live BP on the field during his rehab. #Dodgers

— . (@THEREAL_DV) July 26, 2016

Feels like it's been awhile.
(BTW that's Andre Ethier in the cage taking BP on the field) pic.twitter.com/sCvIDzZWi7

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 26, 2016

Most Times Using the DL This Season (Days lost): 1. Dodgers (23 players, 1,206 days). 2. Oakland (21, 1,059) 3. Rockies (20, 752).

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 24, 2016

The Dodgers lead the majors with 23 players on the DL this season and 1,206 days missed, so this territory is nothing new for the Boys in Blue. Even with all of these injuries, the Dodgers have managed to lead the Wild Card race and are a mere 2.5 games behind the San Francisco Giants; however, just because the team has survived with all of these injuries, doesn’t mean they should have to.