Los Angeles Times

Some things remain unsettled

- By Kevin Baxter kevin.baxter@latimes.com

With just 10 days left in the regular season, injuries and illness have left the Dodgers’ lineup a work in progress.

On Friday shortstop Corey Seager, who missed a game after fouling a ball off his right ankle, was back on the field but third baseman Justin Turner was not available after getting a stomach virus.

Given the Dodgers’ recent struggles, manager Dave Roberts said he would like to use his playoff lineup during the final seven games — but without jeopardizi­ng the health of players who are still dealing with some bumps and bruises.

“It’s a fine line,” he said. “Corey wants to get on track offensivel­y. So if he feels like he can play, it makes sense to get him out there.

“There is some sense of urgency to want to finish the season playing well.”

Roberts has some other personnel questions to answer over the next week in terms of his bullpen and bench. The manager has already said right-hander Kenta Maeda will move from the rotation into a relief role for the postseason, while Andre Ethier, who started Friday in left field, is battling Curtis Granderson for a roster spot.

Relief effort

Dodgers utility player Enrique Hernandez has been unable to reach family members in Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria, which slammed the island Wednesday, knocking out power and electricit­y, killing more than a dozen and flooding much of the U.S. territory.

“It’s a little frustratin­g for sure,” he said. “But there’s nothing we can do.”

On Thursday, Hernandez and his fianceé Mariana Vicente started raising funds for relief efforts, collecting more than 250 donations totaling more than $21,000 in the first 24 hours. Hernandez has set a fundraisin­g goal of $100,000 (Donations can be made online at youcaring.com/LosNuestro­s.)

The Dodgers pledged $100,000 to the American Red Cross for relief efforts for Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Irma and the deadly earthquake in Mexico.

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