MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker was removed from Monday’s game against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning with low back spasms.
Tucker walked with one out in the second and ran lightly to second base on Tommy Edman’s single to right field. Then, Tucker was replaced by pinch-runner Alex Call. Tucker stayed in the dugout, standing up next to dugout fence before heading into the clubhouse after the inning was over.
“I really felt it when I went out for defense in between innings in the first,” Tucker said. “Went out there and just tried to hope that it could kind of calm down, or go away or something and I could just keep playing through it. … On the bases and stuff, it was kind of still sticking around, still kind of there.”
Manager Dave Roberts said he considers Tucker day-to-day. The outfielder said, “just got to kind of see how it goes tomorrow,” regarding his status.
After signing a four-year, $240-million contract with Los Angeles in January, Tucker has played in 75 of the Dodgers’ 79 games this season. But he’s hit just .234 with six home runs and four RBIs. The .234 average is his lowest since hitting .141 in 28 games as a rookie in Houston in 2018. He’s hit at least 22 homers in each of the past five seasons.
The Dodgers also pulled catcher Dalton Rushing in the bottom of the third to rule out a concussion. Roberts said Rushing passed concussion testing, but the catcher has to retake the test 24 hours later and likely will be out of Tuesday’s lineup. He was replaced by Chuckie Robinson and Roberts said the team will likely add another player in case Rushing is unavailable.
Los Angeles was already without No. 1 catcher Will Smith, who is on the 10-day IL with neck inflammation.
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