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Dodgers News: Yasiel Puig Likely To Miss NLDS Due To Hamstring Injury

Joe Robbins-Getty Images
Joe Robbins-Getty Images

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig has been battling hamstring issues throughout season, missing all of May and now all of September, limiting him to just 77 games.

Puig, who again landed on the disabled list on Aug. 28, is currently rehabbing his injured hamstring at the Dodgers’ Spring Training complex in Arizona. According to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly doesn’t expect the outfielder to return for a potential, if not expected, National League Division Series:



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.

On the season the 24-year-old Puig is batting .256/.324/.440 with 11 home runs and 38 RBIs in 277 at-bats. Peraza, whom the Dodgers acquired from the Atlanta Braves in their deal at the trade deadline, is also expected to miss the first round.

Peraza made his Major-League debut on Aug. 10 and appeared in seven games. Although he is batting just .182, he has stolen three bases. He stole at least 60 bases in both 2013 and 2014 in the Minors.

While it is unlikely that either Puig or Peraza play in the first round, it is possible for them to play in some instructional league games and be ready for the NLCS if the Dodgers advance:

You have to look [at it] like that,” Mattingly replied. The Dodgers have no plans to shut down Puig. “Not at all,” Mattingly said.

Should Puig not be available in the NLDS, the Dodgers will be without a player who’s batting .314/.364/.412 with five RBIs in 51 career postseason at-bats. A win in any of the four games against the San Francisco Giants this week will be enough for the Dodgers to clinch a third straight NL West title.

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