Andre Ethier is still hurting, so his injured shin receives a closer look
Still ailing three days after fouling a ball off his right shin, Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier underwent a bone scan Monday to detect whether he had suffered a fracture.
A team spokesman indicated the results of the test would be available Tuesday.
The initial X-ray, taken Friday, came back negative. But Ethier has required crutches to move around.
“He just is not feeling well,” Manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s not responding.”
The Dodgers had hoped to use Ethier as their leadoff hitter against right-handed pitchers. If he starts the season on the disabled list, the team will likely keep Trayce Thompson as the fifth outfielder.
The lack of progress creates another headache for Roberts in his first spring as Dodgers manager.
“After a contusion, even if it gets you pretty good, you should still feel less discomfort,” Roberts said. “And he’s just not there yet. Sometimes X-rays don’t tell the whole story. That’s why we wanted to get the scan.”
Re-aggravation
Yasmani Grandal caught only two innings Monday after re-aggravating a forearm strain that bothered him early in camp. Roberts removed him from the game when he saw Grandal grimace after a swing.
Grandal rushed out of the clubhouse afterward, citing a doctor’s appointment. Roberts planned to rest Grandal until Thursday.
Waiting game
Mike Bolsinger reported progress with his mild oblique strain, a day after he was injured shortly after the Dodgers effectively made him their fifth starter.
The team will now wait to see how Bolsinger responds in the coming days. It cannot finalize the rotation until it understands the severity of his condition.
Zach Lee, who was sent to minor league camp Sunday, could start in Bolsinger’s place during his next turn through the rotation. Brandon Beachy, another candidate for the final rotation spot, hoped to resume his throwing program Tuesday after two days off to rest a sore elbow.
Roberts indicated the team would also consider Carlos Frias for the role. Joe Blanton is not an option, he said. Blanton will continue to pitch as a reliever.
Short hop
The Dodgers trimmed four players from their roster, reassigning infielder Brandon Hicks, catcher Shawn Zarraga, outfielder Corey Brown and first baseman Cody Bellinger.
Twitter: @McCulloughTimes
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