Miguel Rojas was left off the Dodgers’ NLCS roster due to a partially torn left adductor muscle, and the infielder has already said he’ll need to undergo surgery to correct the problem after the season is over. However, as Rojas told Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times, he is also dealing with a sports hernia that will require more surgical attention.
Despite it all, Rojas is still hoping he can heal up enough in the interim to be part of a potential World Series roster if the Dodgers can get past the Mets. Rojas suffered the adductor injury in the last week of the regular season and was able to play in three games in the NLDS (hitting two singles in eight plate appearances) but hasn’t played since he was removed for a pinch-runner in the third inning of Game 3.
Assuming Los Angeles did advance to the Fall Classic, there’s obvious risk for the Dodgers in rostering a player who clearly won’t be at anything close to 100 percent. Teams can make (with league approval) injury-related roster substitutions once the World Series begins, yet that wouldn’t prevent the Dodgers from finding themselves short-handed during a game if Rojas had to make another early exit. The decision will ultimately hinge on both Rojas’ health and what the team feels a limited version of Rojas can still bring to the infield mix. Other injuries will also be factors, like the hip flexor issue that kept Gavin Lux out of Game 2 of the NLCS.
With these health issues mounting, Enrique Hernandez has been a godsend for the lineup, as the utilityman moved into the starting lineup once Rojas went down. Since Tommy Edman took over for Rojas at shortstop, Hernandez has become the new primary center fielder, though Hernandez has also seen action at third and second base, including a start at second base in Lux’s place in Game 2. In addition to the defensive versatility, Hernandez has been hot at the plate, with two home runs and a 1.084 OPS in 20 PA in the Dodgers’ last five games.
Hernandez had already established a reputation for himself as a clutch postseason hitter prior to 2024, though his improved form might’ve been sparked during the summer when he started wearing glasses. As The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal notes, a conversation with Martin Maldonado in June inspired Hernandez to undergo an eye exam, which revealed an astigmatism in his right eye. Hernandez started wearing glasses to help his vision, and after an adjustment period, he hit .274/.307/.458 slash line over his final 180 PA of the regular season. While not standout numbers, it was still a marked improvement over the .191/.258/.299 line Hernandez posted in his first 213 PA.
In other Dodgers injury news, right-hander Daniel Hudson didn’t pitch in Game 2 due to what manager Dave Roberts revealed to media (including Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times) described as a “lower-body” problem. Hudson was deemed available for Game 3 and while he wasn’t one of five pitchers used in the Dodgers’ 8-0 win, that might’ve had more to do with the increasingly lopsided score than with any lingering concerns over his injury.
With gamesmanship in full effect in the playoffs, it isn’t surprising that Roberts wasn’t specific with the nature of Hudson’s issue. Any sort of lower-body injury is of particular concern in Hudson’s case given that he tore his ACL in June 2022, and then pitched just three innings during the 2023 season due to recovery from that ACL tear and then an MCL strain.
The good news is that Hudson returned from these injury-marred years to deliver a healthy and productive 2024 season. Hudson allowed a ton of hard contact and benefited from a .225 BABIP, but he finished the year with a 3.00 ERA and above-average strikeout and walk rates over 63 innings out of the Los Angeles bullpen. A postseason hero for the Nationals in their 2019 World Series run, Hudson has continued his strong work in October with 3 1/3 scoreless innings so far in these playoffs.
Dodgers in 4!!!!!!
Glad to see you’re paying attention!! Dodgers already lost game two.
Uhhh…. is this a straight line?
Sat in frigid Citi Field last night and had a ball. Going again tonight/Friday. Go blue!
if you need a friend to bring to the game please lemme know 😀 LFGM!
Sorry bro. No can do. Good luck tonight.
Who really cares what anybody does,.
I do not care about Jerry nor arte nor Disney
They all greedy they all worship lucifer
Been goofing you fellas. It’s been me the whole time. lol. Going back to posting from my main account blackpink. Thanks for the laughs. Losers
“Thanks for the laughs”…You must have an awful lot of empty time on your hands, broham.
Probably all of it.
What’s the story behind the picture of Miguel Rojas sitting at a cards table in a casino during the playoffs?
it was right after he blew the double play early in the padres series. it led to a loss and he said he hurt himself during the play too. Then he cursed out dodger fans on social media for saying he cost them the game. most of the non dodgers in the comments were gamblers saying he took “a fall” on the play. showing up at the casino right afterwards doesnt help or make him less guilty
Rojas’ main contribution is defense. Any hitting he does is a bonus. If his injury affects his fielding in anyway, no need to risk it. I think the Dodgers can fill his void no problem. But, Hudson might be a concern. The amount the Dodgers use the pen, it could hamper them in a close game. Go Dodgers!
Look at his batting line for the year. Rojas has done a lot of hitting. His bat is definitely missed at the bottom of the order.
As for Hudson, he was warming in the pen last night, before the 8th inning. When they scored the three more runs they went with Casparius instead. So it seems Hudson is available now.
True, he had a better than expected season. Kike and Edman have been solid near the bottom of the lineup this postseason with good defense.
The Dodgers had him retool his plate approach and it paid off. Edman I always liked when he was with St. Louis and I was happy to see him come to the Dodgers. And Kiké just turns into someone else in the postseason.
Yes sir. Whatever you say sir.
Not concerned about Hudson. He was up yesterday and sat back down when the lead was increased. He was ready to go into the game. Has to be more than healthy enough.
Kike is legend in the postseason. Always. Glasses or no glasses. The man comes to play! Hats off.
With Rojas out, the backup SS’s are Betts, Kike’, Taylor, and Lux. I could see adding Rojas to the WS roster simply to sit as insurance against an injury to Edman.
Don’t see it mentioned here but apparently Freddie Freeman is sitting out tonight. Makes sense considering his ankle injury.
Muncy is at 1B. Freeman sits.
Not a difficult choice facing a lefty and considering the agony he is playing through. Roberts implied he could still come off the bench to pinch hit.
Plus it is frosty here tonight
Well there are about 8 of us left to watch the bottom of the 9th at Citi. Thank you Blue for another delightful evening.