Corey Seager’s elbow continues to linger

Corey Seager was out of the Dodgers’ starting lineup on Monday against the Phillies, with manager Dave Roberts telling reporters before the series opener that his shortstop was getting a day of rest. But, elbow soreness will likely be something Seager has to deal with for the rest of the 2017 season.

Seager has been able to hit while dealing with his elbow, but he is affected more on throws when in the field. He was held out of the starting lineup for 11 games from Aug. 29 to Sept. 7, appearing as a pinch hitter five times during that span.

Ken Gurnick of MLB.com has more:

"I think there's a little bit of preservation, understanding where his arm is at," said Roberts. "I don't think it's 100 percent. I think he's doing a little guarding and protecting. He knows when to let it go and when not to. But I think it's clear that he's doing some protecting. He's not showing the arm strength he has had because he's trying to manage it."

Seager did enter Monday’s game as a pinch hitter, striking out swinging against closer Hector Neris in the ninth inning. Kiké Hernandez got the start at shortstop.

It has been a weird seven weeks for Seager, who has reached base by hit or walk in 30 straight starts and since Aug. 1 is hitting .300, but during that time his slugging percentage is just .379, with five doubles and two home runs in 153 plate appearances.

On the season, Seager is hitting .303/.382/.487 with 32 doubles and 20 home runs. In two full seasons, he has two of the three Dodgers seasons in franchise history with 20 home runs by a shortstop.

Seager started the Dodgers’ previous nine games — over a 10-day span — before Monday, and figures to start several more to close out the season, per Roberts.

Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register has more:

Roberts said it is his understanding from the medical staff that a cortisone injection or something of that sort would not help Seager “given the location” of the pain. And he doesn’t plan to give the shortstop another day off because “the rest doesn’t necessarily help” the elbow,

“The activity, keeping it warm is a benefit,” Roberts said. “That’s the understanding I get from Corey and from the doctors. I actually don’t even see him taking a day after we clinch.”

Seager had an MRI on the elbow in late August and said it showed issues that he would need to “address more” in the offseason.