Miguel Rojas was left off the Dodgers’ NLCS roster because of {a partially} torn left adductor muscle, and the infielder has already stated he’ll must endure surgical procedure to appropriate the issue after the season is over. Nonetheless, as Rojas advised Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Occasions, he’s additionally coping with a sports activities hernia that can require extra surgical consideration.
Regardless of all of it, Rojas continues to be hoping he can heal up sufficient within the interim to be a part of a possible World Collection roster if the Dodgers can get previous the Mets. Rojas suffered the adductor damage within the final week of the common season and was in a position to play in three video games within the NLDS (hitting two singles in eight plate appearances) however hasn’t performed since he was eliminated for a pinch-runner within the third inning of Recreation 3.
Assuming Los Angeles did advance to the Fall Basic, there’s apparent threat for the Dodgers in rostering a participant who clearly gained’t be at something near 100%. Groups could make (with league approval) injury-related roster substitutions as soon as the World Collection begins, but that wouldn’t stop the Dodgers from discovering themselves short-handed throughout a sport if Rojas needed to make one other early exit. The choice will finally hinge on each Rojas’ well being and what the crew feels a restricted model of Rojas can nonetheless carry to the infield combine. Different accidents may even be elements, just like the hip flexor difficulty that stored Gavin Lux out of Recreation 2 of the NLCS.
With these well being points mounting, Enrique Hernandez has been a godsend for the lineup, because the utilityman moved into the beginning lineup as soon as Rojas went down. Since Tommy Edman took over for Rojas at shortstop, Hernandez has grow to be the brand new major middle fielder, although Hernandez has additionally seen motion at third and second base, together with a begin at second base in Lux’s place in Recreation 2. Along with the defensive versatility, Hernandez has been sizzling on the plate, with two residence runs and a 1.084 OPS in 20 PA within the Dodgers’ final 5 video games.
Hernandez had already established a popularity for himself as a clutch postseason hitter previous to 2024, although his improved kind may’ve been sparked through the summer season when he began carrying glasses. As The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal notes, a dialog with Martin Maldonado in June impressed Hernandez to endure a watch examination, which revealed an astigmatism in his proper eye. Hernandez began carrying glasses to assist his imaginative and prescient, and after an adjustment interval, he hit .274/.307/.458 slash line over his remaining 180 PA of the common season. Whereas not standout numbers, it was nonetheless a marked enchancment over the .191/.258/.299 line Hernandez posted in his first 213 PA.
In different Dodgers damage information, right-hander Daniel Hudson didn’t pitch in Recreation 2 because of what supervisor Dave Roberts revealed to media (together with Invoice Shaikin of the L.A. Occasions) described as a “lower-body” drawback. Hudson was deemed obtainable for Recreation 3 and whereas he wasn’t considered one of 5 pitchers used within the Dodgers’ 8-0 win, that may’ve had extra to do with the more and more lopsided rating than with any lingering issues over his damage.
With gamesmanship in full impact within the playoffs, it isn’t shocking that Roberts wasn’t particular with the character of Hudson’s difficulty. Any type of lower-body damage is of explicit concern in Hudson’s case on condition that he tore his ACL in June 2022, after which pitched simply three innings through the 2023 season because of restoration from that ACL tear after which an MCL pressure.
The excellent news is that Hudson returned from these injury-marred years to ship a wholesome and productive 2024 season. Hudson allowed a ton of laborious contact and benefited from a .225 BABIP, however he completed the yr with a 3.00 ERA and above-average strikeout and stroll charges over 63 innings out of the Los Angeles bullpen. A postseason hero for the Nationals of their 2019 World Collection run, Hudson has continued his robust work in October with 3 1/3 scoreless innings thus far in these playoffs.