The reinforcements are coming for the Dodgers

It feels like at least half of the team is currently on the Injured List. Well, the good news is help is on the way, as the Dodgers will be getting a number of players back over the course of the next couple of weeks.

First, let’s get to the Corey Seager news. He was diagnosed with a fracture in his right hand after getting hit by a pitch in last night’s game. Luckily, it looks like the Dodgers and Seager avoided the worst case scenario. Surgery won’t be required for his hand, meaning at this point it’s just a waiting game of letting the hand heal.

Roberts said Seager fractured the fifth metacarpal in his right hand. Based on my quick Google search, the recovery process can take up to as many as eight weeks. Roberts said the floor with the recovery time will be four weeks.

Ideally, Seager would have just had a big bruise and missed a couple of days, but this certainly does seem like good news that there won’t be any surgery and he could return before the All-Star Game.

With Seager out, Roberts said the plan is to have Gavin Lux spend majority of the time playing shortstop, with Chris Taylor sprinkled in here and there. Lux actually spent the majority of his time in the minors playing shortstop, as he played 299 games there compared to only 79 at second base.

Help is on the way!

With so many players out, it looks like one-by-one we’ll be seeing players coming back. Roberts said David Price will return on Monday after missing nearly a month with a hamstring injury. So, there’s another solid piece added back to the bullpen.

Cody Bellinger is expected to go on a rehab assignment next weekend, assuming everything goes well this week. The other day, Bellinger posted a video to Instagram of him running, looking like he’s at 80 percent.

Speaking of going on a rehab assignment, Zach McKinstry (oblique) will likely be going on one at some point this week. So it looks like within two weeks the Dodgers can possibly be adding two huge bats and gloves back to the lineup.

Tony Gonsolin, who has yet to pitch for the Dodgers in 2021, will throw a three-inning simulated game this week. The plan for him is to be built up to four innings. Once he’s activated, he’ll become the Dodgers’ No. 5 starter.

Lots of roster movement expected for Monday

The roster is going to look pretty different on Monday. As mentioned, Price is expected to be activated, meaning a player will be sent down. In addition, the Dodgers plan on Yoshi Tsutsugo being with the club on Monday, meaning another player will be sent down.

“He’s had a well decorated career in Japan and hasn’t got any traction with the Rays,” Roberts said when asked about what he can expect from Tsutsugo. “[He can play] first base, third base and left field, and is a bat off the bench.

“There are things our guys have already dug into. He’s a shell of himself. There’s some things we got to talk through. We want to work together to figure this thing out. There’s a lot of upside.”

If the Dodgers can tap into what Tsutsugo did in Japan, watch out. From 2016-2019, he hit 140 home runs and drove in 373 runs with an OPS of above 1.000. If they can recapture any sort of form he had from his days in Japan, this could be a monumental addition for the Dodgers.

Finally, the Dodgers are expected to make the Albert Pujols signing official tomorrow as well. First, LA will need to clear a spot on the 40-man for Pujols. Then, they’ll have to send a player down to make room for him on the active roster.

So in total, expect three new players with the team and three players sent down.

Other news and notes

• With Seager being placed on the IL, the Dodgers have recalled catcher Keibert Ruiz
• Max Muncy is hitting second in the lineup. Roberts said he doesn’t want to pencil him in as the every day No. 2 hitter with Seager out.

Today’s lineup