The Dodgers need a healthy Yasiel Puig. Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
LOS ANGELES — Outfielder Yasiel Puig was back in the starting lineup Saturday night and posted a “Thanks to God” for his return on his Instagram account Sunday morning.
But Puig was not in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting lineup Sunday after reporting continued soreness in the left hamstring that caused him to miss three games before Saturday.
“He came in a little sore today. He actually had a lot of action yesterday,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of Puig, who went 2-for-3 with a walk and a double Saturday.
Mattingly said the Dodgers were treating it as “regular soreness” and not a re-injury of the hamstring. With the Dodgers off Monday, giving Puig Sunday off as well “just kind of makes sense.”
But Mattingly did acknowledge a trip to the disabled list remains a possibility if the hamstring continues to limit Puig. He did appear to be limping at times during Saturday’s game.
“The DL was part of the conversation earlier. I don’t think anybody thought that was what we should have done,” Mattingly said. “To be honest with you, if they said DL I’d be fine with it. I like the way Andre (Ethier) has been playing.
“I’m not going to sit here and push to get Yasiel in the lineup, to be honest with you. It’s way too early in the season for that. If medical says we should DL him, then we’ll DL him.”
