The Los Angeles Dodgers are no longer expected to place outfielder Teoscar Hernández on the injured list. Hernández exited Friday’s game early after his left ankle was struck by a pitch from Cleveland Guardians’ Matthew Boyd during the first inning.
Hernández said Saturday that all of the scans on his foot came back clean, and he is feeling better. He believes he can return to the lineup as soon as Monday or Tuesday, per The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
On Friday after the 3-1 loss to the Guardians, the status of Hernandez appeared grim. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said there was “high” concern for Hernández, and a stint on the IL was “likely.”
“Not great,” Roberts said of Hernández’s status, via MLB.com’s Juan Toribio. “He’s as tough as they come and he could barely move his foot. … We’ll give him a couple of days to see how he comes out.”
If Hernández returns Monday or Tuesday, he will miss just two or three games for the Dodgers. The news comes as a major relief to the Dodgers, who have already been decimated by injuries this season. The Dodgers only recently got Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, and Freddie Freeman back from the IL, and it’s good that their lineup will remain in-tact.
The Dodgers signed Hernández in January on a one-year deal, and he has proven to be one of the team’s most valuable additions throughout the season. Hernandez is slashing .266/.331/.488 with 140 hits, 73 runs, 28 home runs, and 87 RBIs. He ranks second on the team in hits, home runs, and RBIs, and is top-20 in MLB in both home runs and RBIs.
While the lineup remains in good shape, the same cannot be said for the Dodgers’ starting rotation. The Dodgers placed starting pitcher Gavin Stone on the IL Friday due to shoulder inflammation. He joins Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw on IL, leaving the Dodgers with fewer options as the postseason approaches by the day.