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As the weekend showdown between the Dodgers and Padres looms, it appears only one of the two stars on the injured list might play in the series.
San Diego expects shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who missed the last nine games with subluxation of his left shoulder, to be activated, perhaps as early as Friday. Padres manager Jayce Tingler told reporters Thursday, “We’re optimistic that he has a good chance to be ready to play tomorrow,” per Alden Gonzalez at ESPN, echoing a sentiment prevalent over the last week, per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Cody Bellinger, who on Thursday is missing his eighth straight game with a left calf contusion after getting spiked on April 5, did some running in the pool on Thursday, and is expected to ramp up the aggression soon. Bellinger is technically eligible to be activated from the injured list on Friday, but it is unlikely he will be available for any of the three games in San Diego.
Dodgers-Rockies lineups
| Pos | Rockies | Pos | Dodgers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Rockies | Pos | Dodgers |
| CF | Hampson | SS | Taylor |
| LF | Tapia (L) | 3B | Turner |
| 2B | McMahon (L) | 2B | Muncy (L) |
| 1B | Cron | C | Smith |
| 3B | Fuentes | CF | Pollock |
| C | Diaz | 1B | Ríos (L) |
| RF | Daza | RF | McKinstry (L) |
| SS | Trejo | LF | Raley (L) |
| P | Gomber (L) | P | Urías (L) |
“I’m not going to say zero [chance], but it’s close to that number,” manager Dave Roberts said before Thursday’s game.
Mookie Betts, who missed four games with lower back stiffness before returning to play the last two, gets a day off for the Dodgers, as does shortstop Corey Seager, both getting scheduled rest before the weekend series against the Padres.
Gavin Lux was a late scratch with right wrist soreness. Lux was originally slated to start at shortstop, but with him out of the lineup several Dodgers played musical chairs to find new positions. Edwin Ríos gets the start at first base, which moved Max Muncy to second base (his first defensive start off first base this season), Zach McKinstry from second base to right field, Luke Raley from right field to left field, AJ Pollock from left field to center field, and Chris Taylor from center field to second base.
Brusdar Graterol is expected to pitch for the Dodgers in an alternate training site game in Arizona on Thursday night, then join the Dodgers in San Diego as part of their taxi squad. If and when he could be activated from the injured list is yet to be determined.
The Rockies, meanwhile, are sitting shortstop Trevor Story and right fielder Charlie Blackmon in Thursday’s series finale. Alan Trejo, who was born in Los Angeles and is 0-for-4 in his first four games as a reserve, makes his first major league start at shortstop.