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The Dodgers placed utility man Zach McKinstry on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain on Friday, one day after he was scratched from the lineup.
McKinstry was originally slated to start at second base Thursday, but felt something in his back during his first round of batting practice and was scratched. Chris Taylor was also scratched with lower back stiffness Thursday, lingering from a swing during the Dodgers’ game in Seattle on Tuesday afternoon. Taylor was able to take batting practice Friday and showed improvement, though he isn’t expected to be available during the second game of the weekend series against the Padres.
McKinstry did not take part in batting practice Friday, and was still getting treatment when Dave Roberts met with reporters.
Dodgers-Padres lineups
| Pos | Padres | Pos | Dodgers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Padres | Pos | Dodgers |
| SS | Tatis Jr. | CF | Betts |
| CF | Grisham (L) | SS | Seager (L) |
| 3B | Machado | 3B | Turner |
| 1B | Hosmer (L) | 2B | Muncy (L) |
| RF | Myers | 1B | Ríos (L) |
| 2B | Cronenworth (L) | LF | Pollock |
| LF | Pham | RF | Raley (L) |
| C | Caratini (S) | C | Barnes |
| P | Darvish | P | Kershaw (L) |
“When you’re talking about your back or side, or whatever it may be, you’re talking about swinging the bat, and you’re talking about muscles,” Roberts said. “You don’t want a week or two thing to turn into a four-week thing.”
The Dodgers used McKinstry all over so far this season, starting games in left field, right field and second base, and he even played three innings at third base. His bat kept him in the lineup, hitting .296/.328/.556 with five doubles, three home runs, and 14 runs batted in, the latter two stats second on the team.
The move was retroactive to Thursday, so technically the earliest McKinstry could be activated from the injured list is May 2, though with an oblique strain who knows? McKinstry is one of seven Dodgers currently on the injured list.
To take McKinstry’s place on the active roster, the Dodgers recalled outfielder DJ Peters, who if he makes his major league debut would be the 12th player drafted and signed by the Dodgers in 2016 to reach the majors, the most in franchise history. McKinstry was drafted in that class, as was Luke Raley, who starts in right field for the Dodgers on Friday night, one of four left-handed batters (plus Clayton Kershaw) in the lineup against Yu Darvish.
Raley took ground balls at first base before Friday’s game — don’t read too much into this, as Dustin May and Kenley Jansen took grounders at third base as well — a position he played some in college. Raley also played 75 games at first from 2016-18 in the minors, but primarily has played the corner outfield.
“Just adding another position, the versatility,” Roberts said.