Los Angeles Dodgers utility star Kiké Hernandez was forced to exit Tuesday’s 10-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds early due to back tightness.
Hernandez was 2-for-3 before being replaced in the bottom of the seventh inning by Alex Call.
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After the game, manager Dave Roberts confirmed the injury, but said Hernandez would be good to go for Wednesday’s Game 2.
“He’s playing tomorrow,” Roberts said. “He has some back tightness. Just trying to take care in this particular game, getting him ready for tomorrow and beyond. But he’ll be in there tomorrow.”
Hernandez missed nearly two months of the season due to an elbow injury, but returned in late August and found his groove in late September. He went 6-for-17 over his last four games of the regular season, and continued to hit well in Wild Card Game 1.
Hernandez always seems to turn things on in October, which is why LA has decided to put him in left field this series and leave Michael Conforto off the roster.
Last year, Hernandez hit .294 with two home runs and an OPS of .808 across 14 postseason games for LA en route to their World Series win.
Hernandez will be back in the lineup on Wednesday night, likely in left field again as LA goes for the quick two-game sweep against the Reds. If LA gets the win, Hernandez will have a few extra rest days before the NLDS, which begins on Saturday.
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Photo Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
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