The right fielder was hit by a pitch in the third inning of the Dodgers’ 4-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. An x-ray after the game was negative, meaning it revealed no broken bones. However, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said that Puig won’t participate in any baseball activities until the second x-ray — scheduled for Monday in Pittsburgh — comes back clean.
“I think they just want to be cautious,” Mattingly said. “We think he’ll be OK.”
Puig batted once (he popped out) and played five innings in the field after being hit by a changeup from Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly in the third inning Saturday. The hand was visibly swollen after the game.
“He’s still sore and I think a little bit swollen,” Mattingly said. “Obviously we’re going to be cautious at this point.”
Coincidentally, Kelly hit Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez with a pitch in last year’s National League Championship Series, breaking a rib.
The Dodgers begin a three-game series against the Pirates on Monday.