The Dodgers made a late change to their Sunday lineup against the Padres, scratching Tommy Edman before first pitch.
Edman had been set to hit fifth and start at third base, but Los Angeles adjusted on the fly. Miguel Rojas moved over to third, and Alex Freeland was inserted at second base instead.
Manager Dave Roberts said before the game that Edman was held out because he "felt another day would be a benefit" after taking a pitch off the foot in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday. The pitch came from All-Star closer Mason Miller and was clocked at 87.7 mph. Roberts added that the team is "not too concerned" and is simply being cautious.
That caution fits the way the Dodgers have handled Edman since he returned from a long layoff. He opened the season on the 60-day injured list after offseason ankle surgery, then worked his way back and was activated in mid-June. Since coming off the IL, he has played in 15 games and hit .354 with an OPS of .967.
Los Angeles entered Sunday with a chance to finish off a four-game sweep after winning the first three games of the series. The Dodgers are also 7-2 against San Diego this season.
Sunday also marks a big moment for rookie catcher Eliezer Alfonzo Jr., who is set to make his MLB debut. He'll be doing so while carrying a heavy personal burden after his sister and stepmother were found dead in Venezuela following the devastating earthquake.
The Dodgers were also expected to bring back right-handed pitcher Evan Phillips from the 60-day injured list on Sunday, but Roberts said that move will not happen until "probably" Monday. Los Angeles will need to open spots on both the active roster and the 40-man roster for Phillips.
First pitch for Dodgers-Padres on Sunday, July 5, is set for 4:20 p.m. PT/7:20 p.m.
ET. The game will air on NBC and Peacock as part of MLB's Star-Spangled Sunday.
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Dave Roberts and Dalton Rushing both pointed to the possibility that Sasaki was giving away something in his delivery, a concern that can turn a bad night into a bigger diagnostic problem. Sasaki acknowledged he has work to do and said he needs to identify what went wrong before his next turn, which only adds to the intrigue as the Dodgers try to get him back on track. [Read more 🡒]