Bellinger exits; day to day with mild ankle sprain
DETROIT -- Cody Bellinger exited Saturday's 3-0 win over the Tigers with a mild right ankle sprain, but manager Dave Roberts said that it's nothing to be concerned about.
"As he was going back to make that play, the outfield lip got him a little bit," Roberts said. "He'll be available tomorrow in some capacity. He's not going to start, but it could've been a lot worse. Just to get him out of there, get him treated, I thought that was the best course of action."
There was a moment of concern when Bellinger initially went down, but after being taken out of the game, Roberts said that Bellinger's ankle responded well to treatment and would not be cause for worry going forward. The team did not feel it was necessary to order X-rays.
Bellinger expressed his desire to stay in the game, which also reassured the team. Roberts just felt it was best to be cautious and take him out after the sixth inning. While he won't start on Sunday, Bellinger will be available off the bench if the team needs him.
Tracking a flyout hit by Nicholas Castellanos in the sixth inning, Bellinger reached up to put the ball away when his right ankle rolled. While the right fielder successfully made the catch for the second out, Bellinger quickly took a knee at the warning track. Dodgers trainer Nate Lucero and manager Dave Roberts came out, though Bellinger signaled that he was OK.
After walking around under the watch of Lucero and Roberts, Bellinger further indicated he was fine to stay in the game, and play resumed. He would not last longer than that half-inning, as Yasiel Puig took his place in the lineup in the top of the seventh.