Dodgers News: Yasiel Puig, Kiké Hernandez May Not Return Until Postseason

The Los Angeles Dodgers increased their lead over the San Francisco Giants in the National League West to 7.5 games Friday night behind an impressive display of power. While the Dodgers continue to push toward clinching a third division title, injury concerns linger with the postseason rapidly approaching.

Dating back to Howie Kendrick going down in August, hamstring strains have been a recurring theme for Los Angeles. Since losing Kendrick, Kiké Hernandez, Jose Peraza and Yasiel Puig have battled hamstring issues; Hernandez and Puig are both on the 15-day disabled list, while Peraza has missed the last three games.

Of the three on the DL, Kendrick appears to be ahead of the pack in terms of being reinstated as he’s scheduled to run the bases on Saturday. The forecast for Hernandez and Puig isn’t nearly as optimistic.

According to J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News, it’s feared Hernandez and Puig won’t be seen again in the regular season:

The Dodgers are preparing for the possibility that outfielder Yasiel Puig and utilityman Kiké Hernandez will not return before the end of the regular season.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly didn’t outright state both players would be lost for the final month, but essentially deduced as much based on the nature of a hamstring strain:

Howie (Kendrick) took a month,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “How much time do we have left? We’ve got about a month, and Yas has been out (a week). If it is a month, we’re right pretty much at the end of the year. Kiké’s a little farther behind that. The timetable tells you you’re going to be close.”

For Puig, it’s the second time this season he’s been placed on the DL due to hamstring strain. Though the first was a strain in his left hamstring that cost him 39 total games; he missed one game before getting placed on the DL.

Puig also endured a setback during a rehab assignment that forced him to miss more action. He’s hit .256/.324/.440 with 11 home runs, 38 RBIs, a .331 wOBA and 112 wRC+ in 77 games.

Aside from it being late in the season, Hernandez’s trip to the DL has an added layer of frustration as it came at a time when the utility man was taking hold of the reins in center field.

The 24 year old was the beneficiary of Joc Pederson’s ongoing slump that led to Mattingly stating with frequency Hernandez starting in center field gives the Dodgers their best opportunity to win.