Full Breakdown
Dodgers Lose Miguel Rojas to Back Soreness Ahead of NLDS Game 4
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Core Event: Rojas ruled out for Game 4
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas left Game 3 of the National League Division Series after experiencing lower-back soreness. Manager Dave Roberts announced that Rojas will not be available for the Wednesday night Game 4, citing the need to preserve his eligibility for a potential National League Championship Series. With Rojas out, the Dodgers shifted Kiké Hernández into the second-base spot and positioned utility man Tommy Edman as a pinch-hitter.
Background & Context
The Dodgers entered Game 4 holding a 2-1 series lead over the Atlanta Braves. The previous night’s 3-1 victory was anchored by Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s ten-strikeout performance and home runs from Hernández and former Brave Freddie Freeman. The win positioned Los Angeles one win away from clinching the best-of-five series.
Timeline
- October 6, 2026 – Game 3 at Truist Park: Rojas exits in the eighth inning after reporting back pain.
- Following day – Game 4: Dodgers confirm Rojas unavailable and adjust the lineup accordingly.
Data & Statistics
- Series score: Dodgers 2, Braves 1.
- Game 3 result: Dodgers 3, Braves 1.
- Rojas went 0-for-3 with a strikeout before leaving the game.
- Career with Dodgers (2023-2026): .267/.312/.391 slash line, 13 regular-season home runs, 23 RBI in 105 games, 20.0 bWAR, and a postseason OPS of .639.
- Lineup changes: Hernández starts at second base; Edman pinch-hits and can cover second; left-handed options Josue De Paula, Hunter Feduccia, and Hyeseong Kim remain on the bench.
Official Statements & Responses
- He also noted the Dodgers have “an extended bench anyway.”
- Walt Weiss, Braves manager, said Ronald Acuña Jr. was “just a little sore” in his right knee but expected the injury to be minimal for the upcoming game.
- Tyler Mahle, Braves right-hander, described a recent abdominal pull as a “non-issue,” indicating he is fully available for Game 4.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the precise moment the back injury began. Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported that Rojas first felt pain while fielding a ground ball in the fifth inning, whereas the Associated Press indicated the soreness flared after a swing in the eighth inning. Descriptions also vary between “lower back pain” and “lower back soreness,” and no official medical diagnosis has been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “To make any decisions that would compromise his status for a potential next series doesn’t make sense,” — Dave Roberts, manager