Errors prove costly as Dodgers lose to the Marlins 3-2

LOS ANGELES » Six weeks into their season as defending champions, the Dodgers have placed 13 players on the injured list, including three regulars.

Corey Seager became the latest to go on the IL after suffering a fracture in the fifth metacarpal of his right hand when he was hit by a pitch during Saturday’s game. On top of that, Chris Taylor was scratched from the starting lineup Sunday due to right wrist soreness.

The Dodgers knew defending their championship would be challenging. But they couldn’t have expected the hurdles to pile up so high so fast.

“No, I didn’t. But that’s why you play 162,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “That’s the thing that pulls your hair out, but it’s the great thing about baseball. We’re tapping into the depth, giving guys an opportunity. And you’ve got to figure it out because no one’s gonna feel sorry for the Dodgers.”

Seager’s injury will not require surgery but the Dodgers will likely be without him for six to eight weeks.

“I think, obviously to be back with us, the floor is four weeks,” Roberts said of a potential timeline. “I just don’t know.”

Gavin Lux will become the primary shortstop, leaving second base to be manned by a revolving group of options — Taylor, Max Muncy and Sheldon Neuse, who started there Sunday. Roberts said he planned to start Taylor at shortstop against lefthander Madison Bumgarner, the Diamondbacks’ scheduled starter tonight.

Muncy’s time at second base could increase with today’s anticipated arrival of Albert Pujols and Yoshi Tsutsugo. Both can play first base.

Muncy’s bat also becomes more important with the loss of Seager. Muncy batted second Sunday and could fill Seager’s spot in the lineup frequently during his absence though Roberts said it would be “pitcher dependent.”

“I’m not going to box myself in,” Roberts said. “But obviously when you lose a guy like Corey, Max has got to plug in there.”

With Taylor likely to spend more time playing shortstop or second base — he has started 22 games in center field with Cody Bellinger out — Mookie Betts could move between right and center field more often.

“I think, for me, you look at the probability of where the ball might go,” Roberts said. “I feel like he’s a plus defender all over the place. So, now we have his openness and willingness to kind of bounce from center to right. So depending on what I feel, I’ll kind of act accordingly.”

Roberts said he might give D.J. Peters a start in center tonight against Bumgarner. In July 2017, Bumgarner was in Class-A on a minorleague rehab assignment. Peters was playing for Rancho Cucamonga and hit two homers off Bumgarner.