DENVER — Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado left Friday night’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers with right shoulder soreness, according to the team.
Arenado tweaked his shoulder turning a 3-5-3 double play at second base off the bat of Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal in the third inning. Arenado was covering second as the Rockies had shifted for Grandal, who was hitting left-handed.
“Just a little tweak, been having it for a little while now and playing through it but tonight it kind of bothered me,” Arenado said.
Arenado noted that the shoulder felt fine while swinging a bat, but over the past couple of weeks has been sore on occasion when making throws. He also said the he expects to play on Saturday.
“My plan is to come in to play tomorrow, but we’ll see how it feels,” Arenado said.
Prior to exiting the game, Arenado was 0-for-2 at the plate, having grounded into a fielder’s choice in the first and struck out in the third. He did not have a chance in the field after turning the double play in the third.
Rookie Ryan McMahon took Arenado’s place at third base to start the top of the fifth, and will likely play there often if Arenado misses any time. McMahon hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning that put the Rockies in the lead for good in a 5-4 win.
“I don’t like doing that to players, (making them come into the game) if they’re not ready, I always kind of feel bad, but I don’t feel bad anymore,” Arenado said.