The Los Angeles Dodgers are loaded with stars, but manager Dave Roberts might be most impressed by the team’s less-heralded players who step in when needed.
It happened in Monday’s 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game series, and Roberts likely will turn to a couple of reserves again when the teams meet Tuesday night in Minneapolis.
“I think that’s the word: resilience,” Roberts said. “There’s a lot of things that we can’t control — health, performance. So guys have got to be ready when called upon.
“… We’ve had a lot of guys step up in place of some guys that have been hurt. It speaks to the depth and just also the mindset that we’re going to keep moving forward.”
The Dodgers are dealing with two more injuries after outfielder Kyle Tucker left Monday’s game because of back spasms and catcher Dalton Rushing exited the contest after taking a foul tip off his mask.
Tucker’s status for Tuesday is uncertain. Roberts said the outfielder’s back started bothering him in the first inning, and he replaced Tucker with a pinch runner in the top of the second.
“I saw him take his at-bat, saw a little bit of wincing when he was jogging down to first base,” Roberts said. “And then once he got to second base, I think it was just more of not seeing him move the right way. I didn’t want to put him in any more jeopardy, and so I thought it was smart to just pivot right there.”
Roberts did not seem to think Tucker would require a stint on the injured list.
“Not overly concerned,” Roberts said. “Obviously, with the back, you’ve got to be mindful, but he said he’s had it before. He’s played the next day (after back spasms), and he’s also done it where I think he’s taken a day off. So I think for me it’s just day-to-day. We’ll see how he is and how he comes in (Tuesday).”
Meanwhile, Rushing is unlikely to play Tuesday.
“He’s doing well,” Roberts said. “He passed the (concussion) protocol test, but I guess you’ve got to do it again in 24 hours, so (Tuesday) we’ll do the same thing. I would say it’s pretty unlikely he’ll be in there (Tuesday) just to potentially give him another day.”
Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski (8-2, 2.72 ERA) will make his 13th start of the season. He already has a career high in victories and innings (79 1/3).
Wrobleski will go for back-to-back wins after stifling the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 a week ago. He scattered three hits in six scoreless innings and struck out five without walking a batter.
This will be Wrobleski’s first career start against Minnesota.
The Twins planned to give the ball to ace right-hander Joe Ryan, but they announced after Monday’s game that he would be scratched from the start because of an illness.
Instead, Twins left-hander Kendry Rojas (1-0, 1.26 ERA) will make his second career start. The rookie has 14 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings in five total appearances.
This will be Rojas’ first appearance against the Dodgers.
Twins manager Derek Shelton said he liked the way his team played despite the loss in Monday’s series opener.
“We held a really powerful offense kind of at bay,” Shelton said. “We hit some balls hard. Just we couldn’t find any holes.”
–Field Level Media
