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Cody Bellinger is out of the Dodgers lineup for a second straight day, after feeling tightness in his lat muscle while in the batting cage before Tuesday’s game against the Diamondbacks.
“We’re going to give him another day, and the hope is to get him back in there tomorrow,” manager Dave Roberts said on a conference call on Wednesday. “He took some swings today in batting practice in the cage and felt better than yesterday. He felt he could have played, but just talking to the trainer and Cody himself, it just makes sense to just give it one more day.”
Dodgers-D-backs lineups
| Pos | D-backs | Pos | Dodgers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | D-backs | Pos | Dodgers |
| RF | Calhoun (L) | RF | Betts |
| 2B | Marte (S) | SS | Seager (L) |
| 1B | Walker | CF | Pollock |
| LF | Peralta (L) | 1B | Muncy (L) |
| 3B | Escobar (S) | LF | Taylor |
| DH | Rojas (L) | DH | Pederson (L) |
| SS | Ahmed | C | Smith |
| CF | Varsho (L) | 3B | Rios (L) |
| C | Kelly | 2B | Lux (L) |
Bellinger homered in each of his last two games, and in his last 11 games is hitting .341/.438/.854.
A.J. Pollock starts in center field on Wednesday night, his ninth start at the position this season.
Relievers on the mend
Pedro Baez and Joe Kelly each threw a bullpen session on Tuesday as they work their way back to a possible return. Baez has been sidelined with right groin strain, having last pitched on Aug. 19.
“He’ll throw another one tomorrow, and then hopefully come Sunday, we’ll get him facing some hitters,” Roberts said. “After that, if he checks those boxes, activation should be around the corner.”
Kelly last pitched on Aug. 8, and is on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation. He will throw another bullpen session this weekend, and will face hitters in his next simulated appearance after that. Roberts said activation for both pitchers could happen by late next week.
Once Kelly is activated he will need to serve his five-game suspension for throwing at Alex Bregman on July 28.
Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman was suspended three games for throwing at the head of Mike Brosseau of the Rays on Tuesday. Like Kelly, Chapman didn’t hit a batter, and like Kelly, Chapman’s prior history of discipline for such an incident was considered, but his suspension was two games less than Kelly.
“I know there’s some history between the two teams, but I don’t know Chapman’s history with with that and suspensions. So it’s not necessarily apples to apples as far as what’s deemed intent with Joe and Chapman,” Roberts said. “I do know that to go glove side at the head to somebody that’s very difficult for a pitcher to do. I’m just glad I’m not a part of that situation.”
Game info
Time: 6:40 p.m. PT
TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market only)