With Chicharito hurt, Galaxy seek scoring options

The Galaxy failed to pick up the scoring slack Sunday when a calf injury forced Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez out of the lineup against Sporting Kansas City.

Barring a remarkable recovery, the Galaxy will again be looking for someone else to score in tonight’s game against FC Dallas at 7:30 p.m. at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Hernandez, who has 10 goals, suffered the injury during warmups. Despite his absence, the Galaxy (74, 21 points) created several chances, especially in the first half, but in the end missed its Mexican star in the 2-0 defeat.

Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said Tuesday that Hernandez has a “mild strain.”

“Timeline, I’m not 100 percent sure, (he) probably will not be available (against FC Dallas), but it’s nothing that’s too bad,” Vanney said. “I know last year, he had some issues with it and that was a little bit of some concern, but nothing that we’re seeing that’s anything long term.

“We feel like we can get him back here pretty quickly, hopefully by the time we return back to games (July 17), he’ll be good by then.

Hernandez’s calf injury last season cost him two months.

“The most important thing for us, him and everybody is that we make whatever this small issue is be the last part of this small issue, and we move forward,” Vanney said.

The Galaxy’s leading goal scorer behind Hernandez is Sacha Kljestan (two).

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Today: FC Dallas at Galaxy, 7:30 p.m., SpecSN

With Jonathan dos Santos and Efrain Alvarez away with the Mexican national team, only Kljestan and Sebastian Lletget (one) have scored goals this season.

Now would be a good time for new signees Kevin Cabral and Samuel Grandsir to get on the scoreboard. In 11 games, Grandsir has one assist and seven shots on goal. Cabral joined the Galaxy as a young Designated Player and has just one assist.

“I think they’re progressing in terms of their play. Cabral is often in some of the best positions for us to score a goal, he’s had some of our best chances in the last few games,” Vanney said. “He just hasn’t, for one reason or another, sometimes it’s a physical reason, sometimes it’s a pressure or stress reason. He hasn’t been fortunate enough or executed well enough to put the ball in the back of the net.”

Galaxy extends Araujo contract

The Galaxy announced that defender Julian Araujo has signed a contract extension through the end of the 2025 season. Araujo, 19, is in his third season with the Galaxy. He will now occupy a U22 Initiative roster spot.

The new initiative is for players younger than 22 and allows for MLS clubs to sign up to three players to “lucrative contracts at a reduced budget charge, decreasing the risk associated with acquiring or retaining players who are still approaching their prime.”