Dodgers Placing Alex Verdugo on Injured List
By Sean Facey
One of the Dodgers' star rookies is going to have to spend some time nursing his wounds.
Los Angeles has placed outfielder Alex Verdugo on the 10-day injured list due to a right oblique strain. This comes just a day after he was held out of the lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals.
As a corresponding move, the Dodgers have recalled southpaw Caleb Ferguson.
The Dodgers have placed OF Alex Verdugo on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain and have recalled LHP Caleb Ferguson. Additionally, the Dodgers have optioned RHP Tony Gonsolin to Triple-A Oklahoma City and recalled IF Edwin Ríos.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 6, 2019
Tony Gonsolin was also optioned to Triple-A in favor of infielder Edwin Rios.
Verdugo has had a breakout campaign with the Dodgers this year. After struggling to find his footing in his first two shots at the majors in 2017 and 2018, he's hit his groove, slashing .294/.342/.475 with 12 home runs and 44 RBIs through 106 games.
He's been in a bit of a funk lately, though. Since the start of July, Verdugo's played in 26 games and has put up an underwhelming .684 OPS with 22 strikeouts. Perhaps some time spent away from the game recovering will do him some good.
#Dodgers announced a slew of roster changes involving Tony Gonsolin, Caleb Ferguson, Edwin Rios and Alex Verdugo.https://t.co/caEQxfpu1r pic.twitter.com/UWXI8Eicsz
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) August 6, 2019
It's not like the Dodgers are in dire straights with him gone. At 75-40, LA owns the best record in baseball and have a comfortable 18-game cushion in the NL West. They can afford to let their rookie sensation take as much time as he needs to recover.
The rest of the team will hold down the fort until he recovers and is ready to return to action as the Dodgers gear up for yet another World Series run.