Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas left Tuesday night’s Game 3 of the National League Division Series with lower back pain, though he and the team feel he will be available if needed going forward.
Rojas was batting in the eighth inning against Braves reliever Brent Suter when he felt something on a swing, and started walking gingerly around the plate. After brief consultation with trainer Yosuke Nakajima and Roberts, Rojas was removed from the game in the middle of the at-bat, with a 1-1 count.
Tommy
Edman popped out to finish the plate appearance, then played the final two innings at second base.
“He probably won’t be in there tomorrow against [Braves right-hander Tyler] Mahle. But just to have him available. Hopefully he feels better tomorrow,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters in Atlanta. “But I give him credit for conceding that at-bat because he wasn’t feeling right. So hopefully got it treated up and will feel better coming into tomorrow.”
Rojas expressed something similar to reporters in the clubhouse.
Rojas also slipped on the wet turf just beyond the infield on a groundout to end the fifth inning. Rojas lost his footing on the play but was still able to throw to first base to retire Ronald Acuña Jr.
So far this postseason Rojas has played in two of the Dodgers’ three games, both starts against a left-handed Braves pitcher, with a start at third base in Game 2 and at second base in Game 3. He doubled off Ray Kerr in Game 2 on Sunday, and was hitless in three at-bats against Chris Sale in Game 3. Rojas during the regular season hit .293/.340/.469 with a 121 wRC+ against southpaws.
The 37-year-old Rojas when he signed a one-year deal last December said his plan was to retire after the season and then move into the Dodgers front office, with a focus on player development. Whether this is actually the final ride for Rojas as a player is still up in the air.
“I’m not thinking about that at all. I’m not thinking about my future or anything. I’m thinking about a player who is hitting sixth today in the lineup to help the team win. And I still feel like I can play the game,” Rojas told reporters in Atlanta earlier Tuesday. “I will never think about stepping away from the game because of my performance or my way to play my game. I think there’s other things in life that I’m contemplating about that decision. But if I have to tell you right now, I’m not 100 percent like Kershaw was last year or others in the past that knew for sure they want to go after this year.
“For me it’s more, I would say it’s a 40/60 right now that I want to stay in the game and I want to play.”
