During his pregame Zoom presser on Friday afternoon, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked how infielder/outfielder Cody Bellinger is progressing as he recovers from a “non-displaced rib fracture” in his left side that he suffered in a collision with fellow outfielder Gavin Lux on September 18. The 26-year-old Scottsdale, AZ native and defending 2020 National League MVP was placed on the 10-day injured list three days later, retroactive to the 18th.

“I just think that he’s eligible to come off on Tuesday (September 28) and it’s progressing, probably not at the pace we would all like. So, I think progress is a good thing, but I just don’t want to be… I don’t want to box him in to playing on Tuesday. So, when it happens, it happens. But it’s just kind of a day-to-day thing. Tomorrow (Saturday) is the first day he will swing the bat in batting practice, so we’ll see how that goes.”

Prior to Saturday’s embarrassing 7-2 loss to the worst team in baseball and before Bellinger’s first on-field batting practice, Roberts was asked – point blank – the million-dollar (actually $16.1 million-dollar) question on the mind of every Dodger fan on the planet: Is Cody Bellinger done for the 2021 regular season?

“No, he’s not,” Roberts answered immediately and emphatically. “And when I say that, it’s more of, you know, just kind of you just don’t know, if there’s no setback, it’s more of … it’s progressing each day, it’s getting better, he’s hitting on the field. I’m certain he’s not done for the season. I just don’t want to put us in a situation – or Cody – where there’s an exact time of return, because we … no one knows that.”

SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson caught up with Bellinger (sporting a new buzzcut) and asked him how his first on-field BP went.

“I feel good, today was very promising, swinging felt great.” Bellinger answered. “Throwing was the worst part in Cincinnati because of the motion rib-wise, and that actually felt pretty good today.”

But is a Tuesday return realistic for the two-time All-Star, former Gold Glover and Silver Slugger, 2017 NL Rookie of the Year, and, as noted, 2020 NL MVP?

“I would say I’m close and then we’ll see how I do tomorrow, and then an off-day on Monday to do some more work, but I feel pretty good,” he replied.

As for that ’embarrassing 7-2 loss to the worst team in baseball’ thing, Roberts had an answer for that as well, albeit not nearly as confident and comfortable.

“[Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen] just came out and stuck it to us,” Roberts said postgame. “We got behind early and couldn’t recover.”

Accurate.

The Dodgers wrap-up their three-game series with Arizona on Sunday afternoon before heading home for their final six games of the 2021 regular season – three against the San Diego Padres and three against the NL East champion Milwaukee Brewers.

Play Ball!

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