LA's Thompson out with lower back irritation
PHOENIX -- With Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood on track to throw a simulated game Saturday in Los Angeles, the Dodgers resumed play Friday with manager Dave Roberts dealing with a new injured player, outfielder Trayce Thompson, who is dealing with lower back irritation.Thompson was out of the starting lineup
PHOENIX -- With
Thompson was out of the starting lineup for the opener against Arizona left-hander
"I don't want to call it an oblique, but a little nagging something is going on," Roberts said of Thompson, who went 5-for-35 on the recent homestand and saw his average sink to .225. "It occurred when he took a swing Sunday against the Padres. With the four days [over the All-Star break], maybe give him an extra couple days to see where he's at. I don't want to put him in harm's way to get it right."
As for Kershaw (lower back) and Wood (triceps), Roberts said the sim games against hitters from Class A Rancho Cucamonga would be roughly 60 pitches/four innings. Roberts again wouldn't confirm a return date to the rotation for Kershaw. But a sim game Saturday, followed by a bullpen session Monday, would set him up to start Thursday in Washington.
Utilityman
Ken Gurnick has covered the Dodgers since 1989, and for MLB.com since 2001.