PHILADELPHIA -- Corey Seager's elbow is still sore, and he was out of Monday night's starting lineup, though Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said one thing had nothing to do with the other.
"Just a day off," said Roberts, who started Enrique Hernandez at shortstop in Seager's place after the former returned from Puerto Rico following the death of his grandfather. "Got in late, took a [foul] ball off the calf, wanted to give Kiké a start, and after tonight, we'll run Corey out there for the duration of the season."
Seager pinch-hit in the Dodgers' 4-3 loss, striking out against Hector Neris in the ninth inning.
Roberts agreed that the elbow injury -- which sidelined Seager for 11 consecutive starts beginning Aug. 29 and could require offseason surgery to repair -- has impaired Seager's throwing, which was illustrated when he airmailed a relay throw over catcher Yasmani Grandal in Sunday night's 7-1 loss to the Nationals.
"I think there's a little bit of preservation, understanding where his arm is at," said Roberts. "I don't think it's 100 percent. I think he's doing a little guarding and protecting. He knows when to let it go and when not to. But I think it's clear that he's doing some protecting. He's not showing the arm strength he has had because he's trying to manage it."
Roberts said Seager wants to play through the pain rather than sit. Although the club has not discussed specifics of what Seager is facing in the offseason, Roberts said an injection in the elbow is not an option and rest does not necessarily help. The medical staff, Roberts said, considers Seager's condition "playable, but the more you stress something, obviously there's more potential for pain.
"He's going to have to have it looked at, but our medical staff is on top of it. For us to feel he can play a premium position and make the throws needed and not put himself in immediate jeopardy or even jeopardy down the road, all signs say he can manage it."