Mattingly: Puig unlikely for first round
DENVER — Don Mattingly wouldn’t completely rule out the possibility of Yasiel Puig playing in the first round of the playoffs, but the Dodgers manager sounded as if expected the former All-Star right fielder to be unavailable.
“Right now, it’s just not part of the equation,” Mattingly said. “When it becomes part of the equation, then we’ll think about it a lot more.”
Mattingly was speaking not only about Puig, but also infielder Jose Peraza.
Puig landed on the disabled list on Aug. 28. Peraza last played on Sept. 13.
Both players are rehabilitating injured hamstrings at the Dodgers’ spring-training complex in Arizona.
“They haven’t been able to play in any games for a while now,” Mattingly said.
Only seven games remain in the regular season.
Even if Puig and Peraza miss the first round of the playoffs, they could play in instructional league games to prepare for the National League Championship Series. The NLCS is scheduled to start Oct. 17.
“You have to look [at it] like that,” Mattingly replied.
The Dodgers have no plans to shut down Puig. “Not at all,” Mattingly said.
On the mend Adrian Gonzalez could return to the Dodgers lineup as early as Monday, according to Mattingly.
Gonzalez has a pinched nerve in his lower back that has prevented him from starting three of the last four games. He reported feeling better Sunday. “He sounded encouraged,” Mattingly said.
Welcome back Right-hander Jim Johnson returned to the team after missing the last four games on paternity leave. The right-hander became a father for the third time Thursday, when his wife gave birth to a girl named Charlie Elizabeth.
Johnson entered the game in the eighth inning, when he inherited a couple of runners from left-hander Ian Thomas. Johnson struck out his first batter, DJ LeMahieu, but proceeded to give up three consecutive singles. Three runs scored, including one that was charged to Johnson.
Extra bases As part of the Dodgers’ annual rookie hazing ritual, the team’s first-year players dressed as professional wrestlers for their flight to San Francisco. Corey Seager’s outfit resembled that of the late Ultimate Warrior .… Utilityman Enrique Hernandez remains on track to be activated Monday. … Third baseman Justin Turner was out of the starting lineup as part of a plan to gradually increase his workload. … Rookie infielder Seager, who experienced leg fatigue in recent days, also didn’t start. … Alex Guerrero started at third base and was two for three with a run batted in. He also stole the first base of his career. The multi-hit game was his first since Aug. 8. … The last time the Rockies swept the Dodgers was on Sept. 25-27, 2007. That series was at Dodger Stadium.