Dodgers News: JD Martinez to Miss One More Day with Tightness in Leg

A bit of precaution for the designated hitter.

Slugger J.D. Martinez was a late scratch from the lineup on Sunday after he could quite get his lower body loose before first pitch. Will Smith started in his place at DH and went 1-4 in the loss to the Rangers.

Save for a short stint on the injured list in April, Martinez has been able to answer the call for manager Dave Roberts and the Dodgers all season long. That IL stint came from him not listening to his body. In this case, the DH was smarter about the potential for worsening an injury and pulled himself from the lineup. He's also set to be out of the lineup as the Dodgers take on the Blue Jays tonight.

Roberts said he should be back in the lineup on Tuesday.

Dave Roberts said J.D. Martinez will be down on Monday and should be ready to go on Tuesday. Max Muncy will DH on Monday and Yonny Hernandez will be at third base.

— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) July 23, 2023

The manager also took time to break down the lead up to the lineup scratch.

"Right before the game, when he was getting ready to do his running and pregame stuff, he felt something in his groin area and just felt he couldn't go. We looked at it, I don't think it's something that's going to be very long."

Roberts noted Martinez felt better after spending time with the training staff.

J.D. is among the team leaders in home runs (24 t-2nd), RBI, 73 (1st) and OPS (.881, 4th) in his first season with the Dodgers.