Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers have clinched the National League West title and need just a singular win or an Atlanta Braves loss to secure a first-round bye, meaning their attention can fully shift to postseason preparation.
Part of that preparation entails getting the roster as healthy as possible ahead of what appears increasingly likely to be Game 1 of the NL Division Series.
Some of the injured players the Dodgers are hoping to have available for the playoffs include Will Klein, Dalton Rushing, Edgardo Henriquez and Blake Snell.
Dodgers updates
Will Klein and Dalton Rushing
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts got a good look at both Klein and Rushing’s progress during a live batting practice session on Tuesday.
Rushing will not be a catching option for the remainder of the season due to a slight tear in the UCL of his right elbow. The best-case scenario is to have him available as a pinch-hit option off the bench in the playoffs.
The Dodgers plan to activate Rushing in the coming days to see how he looks at game speed ahead of the deadline to submit their NLDS roster.
“Dalton taking his at-bats, and so the thought is to give him an opportunity at some point in time, which I understand there’s only three games left to get activated and see how it looks coming off the bench. So I’m not sure if that’s tomorrow, Thursday, Friday, something like that,” Roberts said.
As for Klein, he is eligible to be activated from the 60-day injured list on Sept. 30. He will be eligible for the NLDS roster, but he may not be the Dodgers’ first choice after a two-month absence.
Still, there might be an opportunity for the right-hander later on in October.
“Will Klein is more of get healthy, show that you’re healthy, throw to some hitters, and he’ll throw during the week. And then we’ll kind of see if there’s an opportunity later in the postseason,” Roberts said. “Sort of what we did last year.”
Klein was not on the Dodgers’ playoff roster in any of the first three rounds and was active only for the World Series.
Blake Snell
Snell continues to work his way back from his left groin injury scare last week.
After some deliberation over the weekend, Roberts confirmed Snell would forgo his scheduled start against the San Diego Padres and instead pitch against the San Francisco Giants in final series of the regular season.
“Snell threw a ‘pen today, and the thought is he’s going to pitch on Saturday in the Bay,” Roberts said.
Edgardo Henriquez
Henriquez was a recent addition to the IL because of low back discomfort. The exact details of where the right-hander is in his throwing progression are unclear, but he is expected to be available for the postseason.
The NLDS is the earliest series Henriquez is eligible for, which should not be an issue with the first-round bye all but secured.
“My assumption is yes, but I’m not sure the the intensity,” answered Roberts when asked if Henriquez is in the midst of a throwing progression. “So as I understand it from before, we still expect him to be back for the postseason.”
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