The Dodgers are dealing with their first real injury setback of what’s been a stellar season. Teoscar Hernandez is expected to miss about a month with a strained left hamstring, though the outfielder called his Grade 1 diagnosis the “best-case scenario.”
It’s a blow for a team that’s been firing on all cylinders. Los Angeles sits at 37-20, leading the NL West and holding the second-best record in baseball behind their World Series defense.
Hernandez has been a key piece of that success since arriving as a free agent signing. He’s slashing .276/.348/.436 through 204 plate appearances with seven home runs and 31 RBIs. Not eye-popping numbers, but solid production in a loaded lineup.
Teoscar Hernández said his Grade 1 diagnosis was the “best-case scenario” for his strained left hamstring. Said he’s estimated to miss about a month.
The injury happened earlier this week, and there was some uncertainty about the severity. Now that they know it’s a Grade 1 strain, the Dodgers can plan accordingly.
What makes this manageable is the depth Los Angeles has built. Shohei Ohtani continues doing Shohei Ohtani things, Freddie Freeman has been consistent at the plate, and the Kyle Tucker trade is paying dividends. The lineup can absorb Hernandez’s absence better than most teams could handle losing a regular contributor.
The Dodgers will get their first look at life without Hernandez on Saturday night against the Phillies, where they’ll be looking to take the series. The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya broke the news on the timeline.
From where I’m sitting, a month seems reasonable for this type of hamstring injury. The Dodgers aren’t going to rush him back with such a comfortable division lead, and getting him healthy for the stretch run makes more sense than risking a more serious setback.
It’s the kind of injury that tests organizational depth, but this Dodgers roster was built for exactly these situations.
