Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas is officially unavailable for Game 4 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves today, October 7th, and man, this just got real. The veteran infielder’s lower back is giving him absolute fits, a major blow for the Dodgers as they battle in the 2026 MLB Playoffs.
Roberts’ Big Headache: NLCS Status on the Line
Manager Dave Roberts didn’t mince words about Rojas’s condition, saying his back is “not great” and “sore” after leaving Game 3 yesterday. Rojas is “lying low” and simply won’t be in the lineup for Game 4. The real kicker here is Roberts admitting that the team is trying to avoid an Injured List stint right now, because that could absolutely compromise Rojas’s status for a potential NLCS. Think about that for a second: they’re weighing *this series* against *the next one*. They’ve got an extended bench, sure, but nobody wants to make a decision that takes a guy like Rojas out of the mix for good. That’s a huge gamble for a team deep in the postseason.
How the Injury Went Down and Who Steps Up
So how did this all happen? Rojas, who’s 37, left Game 3 in the eighth inning during his fourth at-bat. He was facing Braves lefty reliever Brent Suter with a 1-1 count, fouled off a pitch, and you could see him grimace. He immediately reached for his lower back, and the trainers were out there in a flash. Tommy Edman had to step in mid-at-bat, popping out on the very first pitch he saw. Rojas was seen favoring his lower left back in the dugout, and after the game, he told the media he felt tightness that actually started during a diving stop way back in the fifth inning. This isn’t just some tweak; Rojas is known as a tough player, so for him to be out, you know this back injury is notable. For Game 4, Tommy Edman and Kike Hernandez are gonna be filling those rotational infield spots. If things don’t improve with Rojas, Alex Freeland and Alex Call could get the call, with Edman or Hernandez stepping into an even bigger infield role.
This is a tough spot for the Dodgers. Game 4 is today, and they’ve got to navigate it without a key veteran, all while Roberts has one eye on the NLCS. You know they’re holding their breath hoping Rojas’s back turns around fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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