Springer injures thumb on slide; X-rays negative

LOS ANGELES -- Astros All-Star center fielder George Springer left Sunday's 3-2 loss against the Dodgers in the third inning after suffering an injury to his left thumb while sliding into second base. Springer was clutching his hand and was clearly in pain as he walked off the field with manager AJ Hinch and an athletic trainer. X-rays were negative, but there's still a chance Springer could land on the disabled list.
"At first, I thought it was the base that caught him, and when I got out there both [Dodgers shortstop Chris] Taylor and [second baseman Brian] Dozier told me the glove had clipped his hand [on the tag]," Hinch said. "He was in a lot of pain. It bothered him, so it was an easy decision to bring him out. He was going to get evaluated."
Springer wasn't available postgame and it wasn't clear if he was going to join the club Monday in San Francisco or fly home to be examined by team doctors. There was no immediate prognosis.

Springer, who hit a long homer on the first pitch of the game at Dodger Stadium, drew a walk with two outs in the third and was thrown out trying to steal second base while sliding headfirst. Springer crumpled to the ground in pain behind the bag after being tagged out, holding his left hand.
"He just plays so hard," pitcher Gerrit Cole said. "Fortunately, he's always in a great frame of mind, so whatever life throws at him right now he'll be able to bounce back from. He seemed in pretty decent spirits when I saw him get out of here. He's a tough guy. He'll somehow make it back."
The injury is the latest for an Astros team reeling from them. All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve is on the 10-day disabled list with a sore knee and flew to Houston on Sunday to be examined by team doctors. Starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. was placed on the DL on Sunday after leaving Saturday's start with right elbow discomfort.
Star shortstop Carlos Correa (back) has been out since June 25, but is three games into a Minor League rehab stint at Double-A Corpus Christi and could return soon. Relief pitcher Chris Devenski was placed on the DL on Saturday with left hamstring tightness.
Springer, last year's World Series MVP, is hitting .250 with 19 homers and 58 RBIs this season. He missed two months in 2015 with a fractured right wrist before playing in 162 regular-season games in 2016.