Tucker day to day after exiting game with back spasms

MINNEAPOLIS – Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker made an early departure from Monday night’s 2-1 win over the Twins, exiting the contest in the top of the second inning with lower back spasms.

Tucker’s night concluded shortly after he drew a walk from Twins starter Zebby Matthews and advanced to second base on a Tommy Edman single. The Dodgers immediately substituted Tucker on the basepaths, bringing in pinch-runner Alex Call, who stayed in to play right field.

Tucker noted postgame that the discomfort began suddenly before he even stepped into the batter's box.

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"I really felt it like when we went out for defense in between innings in the first," Tucker said. "Back just like lit up and went out there just tried to hope that it would calm down or go away or something, I'd just keep flying through it ... finishing the swing hurt."

Manager Dave Roberts noticed Tucker struggling on the basepaths and chose to make an immediate tactical change to avoid further risk.

"Back spasmed up and right when we took the field," Roberts said. "I saw him take his at bat -- a little bit of wincing and kind of when he was jogging to first base. And then once he got to second base, I think it was just more not seeing him move the right way, and I didn't want to put him in any more jeopardy. And so I thought it was just smart to just pivot right there."

Before the game, Roberts addressed the nature of Tucker’s performance, evaluating both the mechanical and psychological adjustments the 29-year-old has been navigating at the halfway point of the year.

"No player wants to not perform up to their capabilities," Roberts said pregame. "For me, it's just wanting him to get back to being who he is as a hitter. And who he is as a hitter is a guy that really controls the strike zone. His swing rate has been much higher, his chase rate much higher. If we can get him back to being who he is, then we'll bet on the results."

Roberts noted that Tucker’s early-season tendency to foul off pitches he normally drives had led to him pressing early in counts. He compared Tucker's struggles with those of elite hitters like Mookie Betts, who care deeply about their production.

"Part of guys like that, the curse is the humility," Roberts explained. "Because when they are struggling, there's not an ego. ... But in reality, your reality has to be that the name on the back of your jersey still has to move something – your track record. That's where that confidence can't waver."

Moving forward, both Tucker and the Dodgers are viewing the injury as a day-to-day issue, rather than a long-term concern, based on Tucker's previous experience with similar spasms.

Not overly concerned," Roberts said. "Obviously, with the back, you've got to be mindful. But he said he's had it before and he's played the next day. He's also done it where he's taken a day off. So, I think it's just day to day. We'll see how he is tomorrow."

Tucker echoed that optimism, noting that the intensity of this flare-up felt more manageable than his past experience with the issue.

"I had it once a couple of years ago," Tucker said. "It didn't feel like how it did last time, which is good. Last time it was lighting up like every couple of seconds or minutes, but here it was just that one time it lit up my whole back, and then after that it calmed down. Hopefully, I can feel good, wake up tomorrow and feel fine and get in there.