Dodgers veterans Chris Taylor and David Peralta are both out of the lineup today after exiting yesterday’s game against the Giants. Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register notes that Peralta’s hamstring feels better today, and that manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Peralta could be available off the bench in tonight’s game, though he likely would not be tasked with playing the outfield for a few days.
As for Taylor, Plunkett notes that the veteran utility player underwent an MRI on his knee today that showed he had suffered a bone bruise, a diagnosis that came as a relief to the 32-year-old. Roberts expanded on Taylor’s comments, noting to reporters (including The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya) that Taylor was dealing with “cartilage discomfort” for which he was poised to get a cortisone shot. While both Taylor and Roberts acknowledged that he’ll be out of action for a few days, the pair also expressed optimism that he would be able to avoid a stint on the injured list, though Ardaya notes that infielder Yonny Hernandez is with the team to step in should a roster move be necessary.
With Taylor and potentially Peralta out of the lineup just a day after the club put Max Muncy on the injured list with a hamstring strain, the Dodgers are facing a significant test to their position player depth. While youngster Michael Busch helps to bolster the bench and Mookie Betts is capable of playing both the middle infield or in the outfield as necessary, the club was still forced to get creative with today’s lineup, penciling DH J.D. Martinez into the starting lineup in left field. It was Martinez’s first start anywhere other than DH since 2021, as the veteran slugger hasn’t played the outfield on a regular basis since 2017.
In more positive injury news, left-hander Julio Urias appears to be progressing in his rehab of a hamstring strain, as Plunkett notes the 26-year-old threw a 40-pitch up and down bullpen session today. According to Plunkett, Urias’s next steps will be a live sim game before beginning a rehab assignment shortly thereafter. Urias’s return would be a major boost for LA, as the club lacks certainty in their rotation behind the trio of Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, and youngster Bobby Miller.
Also approaching a potential return to action is right-hander Daniel Hudson. As Roberts noted to reporters, including Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, Hudson is set to move his rehab process from Arizona Complex League to Triple-A in the coming week as he looks to face stronger competition en route to a return to the Dodgers’ bullpen, which Roberts believes could happen before the end of the month. A return to action for Hudson, who sports a 2.96 ERA and 2.84 FIP since the start of the 2021 campaign but hasn’t thrown a pitch in 2023 while rehabbing knee surgery, would be a major boon for the Dodgers as they look to improve a bullpen that sports an NL-worst 4.90 ERA despite a strong nucleus of Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, and Caleb Ferguson.
JD in the OF should only be a one game desperation move. Roberts should be in LF before JD…
Another night another disaster for the pitching. Vesia, Robertson and Bryan Hudson all need to go.
hudson was just called up. cut him some slack. now for the other two….. vesia isn’t fooling anyone. i hope friedman is calling KC or CWS for some bullpen help and maybe a starter. giolito, perhaps??
These guys are all stop gaps at this point. Philips, D Hudson, Graterol, Ferguson, Miller, and Gonzalez are the keepers. Maybe Almonte if he can find some consistency. I can see the Dodgers acquiring a reliever and promoting another one from the minors.
I cannot understand how anyone would see Brusdar Graterol as a high-leverage reliever–or someone you’d want on a roster, come October–given what we’ve seen over the last year-plus.
I don’t care how “fast” his pitches are, just as I don’t care how athletic he is or what a lovable clubhouse presence he is.
He cannot miss bats–the whole “MLB hitters can time up a bullet” is never more true than watching a Graterol outing–and thus, cannot be asked to enter a game with ducks on the pond and nowhere to put the hitter in the box. Add in his disastrous fielding exploits, and for me, he has to be a VERY low-leverage innings-eater for now.
And Vesia can just go. Thanks for your service, Alex; too bad what once was is no more…..
Please spare me the drama. This comment makes me think that you don’t know much about baseball. Look at his stats across not only this year but his Dodger career over the 146 innings pitched and he’s a legitimate reliever. He doesn’t miss as many bats as he should with the elite stuff that he has and may not be a high leverage guy quite yet but this notion that you would not want him on the roster is asinine. Any of the remaining 29 MLB teams would jump on him if the Dodgers released him.
I don’t think Hudson caused three Heyward errors
Vesia has no business being on the roster let him figure it out in the minors
figure what out? He went to the minors and mowed. What else do you want him to do down there?
He clearly can’t get it done on the MLB level. He has been spoon fed long enough.
Then DFA, release, whatever. He’s already proven himself to be able to plow through the minors. Sending him back there doesn’t help in the least.
“be tasked with playing the outfield”
Or
“play outfield”
Do you guys get paid by the word or something?
The bullpen has been lights on out on out on out during home games at least. Geesh!
Vesia is a puzzling predicament. Just odd how suddenly he turned to turd. It would be be odd to just dump him, but perhaps a prolonged stay in minors for the season then addressing it in the offseason is best.
I’ve been following Dodgers since 1965, this team is a mess, last nights blowout loss to their rival was most pathetic embarrassing loss I’ve witnessed in my lifetime! Friedman punted on this season looking to far forward to the 2024 Ohtani Sweepstakes! He did basically NOTHING this off-season and it shows, if this team even makes the playoffs I’d be surprised! If they do, most likely one and done!
you could be a Reds fan
He has 20-20 vision.