Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
J.D. Martinez had been scratched from the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup on three occasions in the past two weeks, and has since undergone treatment on his left groin/adductor.
The 35-year-old last appeared in a game for the Dodgers on August 6, and has just 10 plate appearances since July 30. Martinez was most recently penciled into the lineup against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, but got scratched due to left/groin/hamstring tightness.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts subsequently revealed that Martinez underwent an MRI and received a cortisone injection, which the team hopes can alleviate the discomfort that has sidelined their All-Star designated hitter.
But the Dodgers expect to be without Martinez for at least one more game.
“I think the earliest we would see him is probably Saturday, if not Sunday,” Roberts said.
That would put Martinez on track to appear in either of their final two games against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium, which is part of the team’s longest homestand of the season.
Martinez is batting .260/.312/.558 with 22 doubles, 25 home runs and 76 RBI over 88 games this season.
Heading into play on Thursday, Martinez is tied for 17th in Major League Baseball with 49 extra-base hits and ranks fifth overall in averaging one home run every 13.56 at-bats.
The Dodgers have opted to keep him off of the 10-day injured list during this latest bout with tricky ailments, and they’ve supplemented the DH slot with Max Muncy in the interim.
What to expect from J.D. Martinez in his return
Martinez has been a revelation for the Dodgers at DH this season, providing them with a steady, powerful force. In 2022, the team relied on platoon matchups, which put several players who were used to playing the field and hitting, in unfamiliar spots.
But with Martinez hitting for extra bases at an All-Star pace, his spot in the heart of the Dodgers lineup is key to their success in the long term. He brings a wealth of experience which the Dodgers will place directly back into the cleanup spot or five-hole, upon his return.
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