The Dodgers are looking to end their road trip with a record of 7-2, and they’ll be treated with a pleasant surprise once they begin their upcoming homestand on July 28.
Kiké Hernández has played just two games this season, but he will be back on Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners after missing two months due to an oblique issue. Closer Edwin Díaz, who has pitched just six innings this season, will be activated on Wednesday after missing over three months due elbow surgery to remove loose bodies.
Both updates were reported by David Vassegh of AM 570 on Saturday.
Hernández has appeared in five games with the Oklahoma City Comets during his current rehab assignment, going 6-18 with a home run, while Díaz has accumulated one inning over two appearances with Oklahoma City.
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Dodgers fans were disappointed by the first half results from Kyle Tucker, as the outfielder limped into the All-Star break with just seven home runs while slashing .244/.341/.375. His opening to the second half wasn’t any prettier over the six games against the Yankees and Phillies, but he has found his groove at the plate against the Mets.
Tucker had the deciding home run on Friday in a 4-2 win, and he started the scoring on Saturday with another home run, the first time he’s hit home runs in two consecutive games as a Dodger. Tucker spoke with Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports following the Dodgers’ 4-3 win over New York, where he discussed the struggles he’s faced this year while acknowledging the support he’s received from his teammates and staff.
“Our coaching staff and the players that we have on this team is unbelievable. Everyone is so supportive of each other and just wanting each other to help. It’s a team sport, and we want to get to the end of the season and win a World Series.”
Shohei Ohtani was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Saturday, but lingering issues in his left knee flared up and the two-way superstar is now shut down from throwing.
Dave Roberts expects Ohtani to return to pitching during the regular season, but the team will not move forward with his throwing once he is 100 percent clear to continue, notes Bill Ladson of MLB.com.
“We are not going to move forward [as far as throwing off a mound] until he feels 100 percent confident and we feel 100 percent confident that we should do it,” Roberts said. “He just doesn’t feel 100 percent. I think the last ‘pen that he had, there was a little bit of regression. We want to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
