Dodgers: Corey Seager could miss more time than you’re expecting

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been injury-ravaged thus far in 2021 beyond any of our expectations, both in terms of predictable bodily issues and random acts of chaos.

In fact, the only thing the Yankees and Dodgers are challenging each other for so far are IL stints per capita.

When healthy, this is a World Series winner. That’s no longer speculation. They’re coming off a championship, which feels nice.

Regrettably, the optimism that comes in the wake of a title might be inaccurately coloring our expectations for injury recovery.

Corey Seager, hit by a wayward Marlins pitch over the weekend, came away with a fractured hand, though one that won’t require surgery. On the surface, it seems the Dodgers have escaped without complete disaster.

Some, though, have equated Seager ducking surgery with some sort of gorgeous outcome that results in only two or three weeks on the shelf for our postseason MVP.

That … seems unlikely. As Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times wisely pointed out, the average time missed from this malady is much closer to two months, and Seager could easily return after the All-Star break.

Dodgers star Corey Seager might miss around two months with his hand fracture.

Additionally — and you folks all know this — this is not the full-strength, all-systems-go Dodgers juggernaut that we anticipated watching. Sure, there was a solid first line of defense for covering injuries such as this, but no team — not even our team — is deep enough to cover completely for several starters and several backups all missing significant time.

Zach McKinstry might’ve played a role here, if his muscles hadn’t betrayed him. Edwin Rios probably would’ve gotten significant reps with Gavin Lux shifting to short, except … nope.

Throughout every season, every team utilizes a layer of players beyond the starting nine on the cover of the yearbook, and a healthy dose of that unit can help keep the starters fresh. When the roster is overrun with guys who should be in low-leverage situations taking high-leverage opportunities, it’s hard to shrug off Seager missing two months.

It’s even harder when you’ve mentally convinced yourself it’ll only be one.

“No surgery required” is fantastic news for the Dodgers, as no play in baseball has more variance in outcomes than “fastball up and in on a hitter’s hands.”

The ball could easily glance off the right section of the hand with no damage done. It could leave the fingers swollen, making gripping a bat difficult for a day or two, but have no long-term impact.

It could also break a knuckle. It could even shatter a wrist. With a fastball zooming in, there’s nothing to be done but brace for the worst.

Dodgers fans should probably do a bit of bracing themselves in the weeks to come.

Dodgers: Corey Seager injury creates potential springboard for Gavin Lux

With Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager out for a while due to a fractured hand, will Gavin Lux show that he can replace him?