The Los Angeles Dodgers are chasing their third straight World Series title, and things got a little spicy in the NLDS against the Braves when veteran Miguel Rojas had to leave Game 3 with a back injury. It was a huge “uh oh” moment, especially with the Dodgers currently up 2-1 in the series. This guy’s a clutch player, a true postseason hero, and frankly, without him, the Dodgers wouldn’t have even beaten the Blue Jays in last season’s World Series.
Rojas’s Back Pain and The Real Story Behind It
Initially, it looked like Rojas tweaked something fouling off a ball in the eighth inning. The Dodgers’ official post just said “low back pain,” which, let’s be real, never sounds good. But then the full picture came out. Dodgers writer Bill Plunkett spilled the real tea, saying Rojas actually felt it first when he slipped fielding a ground ball way back in the fifth inning. So, the swing in the eighth was more like the straw that broke the camel’s back, or, well, aggravated his lower back soreness. That’s a brutal way for an injury to develop, slowly building up until it hits you hard. For a guy who’s such a key piece for LA, watching him walk off the field was definitely a punch to the gut for anyone pulling for the blue crew.
The Veteran’s Gut Call and His Future
But here’s where the story takes a turn, and honestly, it’s what you want to hear from a veteran leader. Despite leaving the game with what The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya reported as “tightness in his left lower back/hip area,” Rojas is already waving off concerns. He basically said he’s not worried about being available for the next game. That’s a massive relief for the Dodgers, who need all their pieces healthy for this postseason run. Manager Dave Roberts has a history of trusting his players, so if Rojas says he’s good to go, you can bet Roberts will roll with it. This whole situation is even more poignant because there’s a strong belief that this could be Rojas’s last postseason ever before he hangs up his cleats. Talk about wanting to go out with a bang, right? The Dodgers will be pumped to have him back if he’s healthy, but they’re not going to rush him. They know how important a fully healthy Rojas is for the rest of this series and beyond.
The Dodgers head into Game 4 up 2-1, and Rojas’s availability for that game is absolutely huge as they push for that third consecutive title. You gotta wonder if the Braves are feeling a little nervous about seeing number 19 back in the lineup.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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