Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux injured his left hamstring in the ninth inning of Sunday’s loss to the Rockies. Lux is expected to miss a few days at a minimum, though the severity of the injury is not yet known.
“From what I understand, it’s kind of in a cramp, strain-ish, mild strain category, We’ll know more tomorrow,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Regardless, I see at least a couple days, he’ll be down. We’ll make a decision outside of that tomorrow.”
Lux grounded out to second base in the ninth inning, but immediately after hitting the ball he grabbed back at his left hamstring. After conferring with trainer Yosuke Nakajima, Lux was removed from the game, and replaced at shortstop by Chris Taylor.
The Dodgers plan to send Lux for testing after they get back home to Los Angeles, where they will start a seven-game homestand on Monday against the first-place Giants.
Lux began the year as the Dodgers’ second baseman, but shifted to shortstop — the position he was drafted at and played in the minors — after Corey Seager broke a bone in his hand on May 15. Since Seager was out, Lux started 48 of 55 games at shortstop.
It’s been a rollercoaster at the plate for Lux, who is hitting .227/.307/.349, an 85 wRC+. He’s been for the most part an everyday regular this season, but that could change once Seager returns, especially since Lux is hitting just .143/.238/.171, a 25 wRC+ against left-handed pitching.
“He’s just grinding right now,” Roberts said of Lux on Saturday.
Seager is working his way back from that broken hand, and has another simulated game scheduled for Monday to determine his next step. Whether he’s activated at some point on the homestand remains to be seen.
Relief on the way
After using six relievers to cover the final six innings on Sunday, Dave Roberts said the team will likely add a fresh arm on Monday. There’s an excellent chance that new pitcher will be left-hander Victor Gonzalez, out since July 6 with left plantar fasciitis.
Gonzalez pitched one game on a rehab assignment with Low-A Rancho Cucamonga on Friday, striking out two in a perfect inning. The plan was for Gonzalez to either pitch another rehab game in the minors or join the Dodgers once they returned home.
“We’ll make that decision later today, but I think the possibility of him pitching for us Monday is pretty good,” Roberts said before the game.
The Dodgers are currently carrying 10 relief pitchers on the active roster, though only three of them — Blake Treinen, Phil Bickford, and Jake Reed — pitched twice in the three games in Colorado. Treinen was the only one to pitch on back-to-back days. Scott Alexander did not pitch all weekend.