The Los Angeles Dodgers have been missing two of their biggest bats over the past couple of weeks, but it sounds as if both Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman will be back in the starting lineup within the next few days.
According to MLB.com's Andres Soto, Hernández will begin a rehab assignment with Low-A Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday, and the Dodgers seem intent to activate the slugger prior to the upcoming series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hernández suffered an abductor strain and was placed on the IL back on May 6. Though initial reports elicited a sense of panic from the Dodgers coaching staff and fanbase, Hernández has been taking batting practice recently, and two-day tune up may be all he needs.
As for Edman, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts seems to think that he could back as soon as Sunday's series finale against the Los Angeles Angels. Edman has been dealing with a right ankle injury he suffered at the end of last month, but Roberts' timetable would seem to suggest that a rehab assignment is unnecessary.
Dodgers insider drops hint about roster moves for Teoscar Hernández, Tommy Edman
The question that arises, of course, is which players will be sent down (or released) once Hernández and Edman return to the Dodgers' lineup. Hyeseong Kim, who's been brilliant since being recalled to the big leagues, is an option to be sent back to Triple-A. But that may not be wisest decision on the part of the Dodgers' front office. James Outman, Andy Pages, and Dalton Rushing all have minor-league options as well.
Roberts — as he oftentimes is — was incredibly vague when dissecting who'll need to be sent down once Hernandez and Edman return. "I just can't foresee right now what moves are going to be made in the coming days," Roberts said.
Rushing has already been given a lesser role with the big league ball club, and sending him back down would make logical sense. Of course, after DFA'ing Austin Barnes (though necessary), the Dodgers' backup options behind starter Will Smith are less than ideal and would require Los Angeles to add another player to the 40-man roster.
The Dodgers could always part ways with Chris Taylor, but releasing the versatile utility player would put LA on the hook for the remainder of his contract. Taylor is owed $13 million this season and has a club-option for 2026 that includes escalators and a $2 million trade assignment bonus.
So while Dodgers fans don't yet know how LA will reshuffle the roster in the coming days, the good news is that both Hernández and Edman are on track to return by Monday. As for how the Dodgers decide to do it, that's a question for Andrew Friedman