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LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers before Sunday’s series finale against the Giants placed outfielder Yasiel Puig on the 10-day disabled list with a left hip contusion.
Starting lineups
| Pos | Dodgers | Pos | Giants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Dodgers | Pos | Giants |
| CF | Taylor | LF | Blanco (L) |
| SS | Seager (L) | 2B | Hanson (S) |
| RF | Hernandez | C | Posey |
| LF | Kemp | 1B | Belt (L) |
| C | Grandal (S) | 3B | Longoria |
| 1B | Bellinger (L) | SS | Crawford (L) |
| 2B | Barnes | RF | Slater |
| 3B | Farmer | CF | Hernandez |
| P | Maeda | P | Blach |
Puig crashed into the right field wall in foul territory in the first inning of Saturday’s doubleheader opener and left one inning later. Puig also fouled a ball off his left ankle while batting, but X-rays proved negative.
Puig is off to a slow start in 2018, hitting just .193/.250/.250 with no home runs in 24 games.
The Dodgers recalled Alex Verdugo on Saturday, and he started in right field in the nightcap of the doubleheader. On Sunday, Kike Hernandez gets the call in right field against Giants left-hander Ty Blach, with Matt Kemp in left field.
Brock Stewart was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, and could start as early as Monday, since Rich Hill hit a snag with the fingernail on the middle finger of his left hand.
Rich Hill’s finger is infected. Won’t be activated tomorrow. Stewart could start in Arizona Monday #Dodgers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) April 29, 2018
Hill might miss one or two more starts, Roberts said.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) April 29, 2018
If Stewart is used today, Stripling could start tomorrow.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) April 29, 2018
Stewart is off to a good start with Oklahoma City, posting a 2.41 ERA in four starts, with 20 strikeouts and six walks in 18⅔ innings. He last pitched on Wednesday, but was pulled after just 43 pitches and 1⅔ innings. Now it seems we know why.
The Dodgers on Sunday also optioned 26th man Walker Buehler back to the minors, but that it was again to Class-A Rancho Cucamonga instead of Triple-A suggests shenanigans are afoot. In other words, expect Buehler to possibly return at some point soon.
Buehler might return to start in Mexico series.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) April 29, 2018
Walker Buehler was sent to the minors before the team became aware of Rich Hill’s infection, Dave Roberts said.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughTimes) April 29, 2018
Because Buehler was called up as the 26th man, his 10-day period from his previous optional assignment to the minors is unaffected. In other words, since he was optioned last Tuesday he could return without a subsequent DL move as early as Friday in Monterrey.
The Dodgers and Padres are allowed a 26th man for the entire weekend series in Mexico, designed to help alleviate a potential need for a call-up (the Twins and Indians also were able to use a 26th man in Puerto Rico two weeks ago), but that 26th man must be a position player in a weird quirk required by MLB.