Dodgers lose catcher to injured list, Shohei Ohtani’s status unclear

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing’s elbow injury sent him back to the injured list Sunday, Sept. 6.

Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani was held out of the Dodgers’ lineup for the fourth consecutive game. Max Muncy is their designated hitter for their series finale against the Washington Nationals.

Ohtani hasn’t played since Wednesday because of lingering issues with his biceps and knee. If he is not placed on the injured list Sunday, his IL stint cannot be backdated to Thursday — the start of his injury-related absence.

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Yet Rushing, who will be replaced on the active roster by catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, was the only player the Dodgers placed on the IL prior to Sunday’s game.

Alfonzo, 26, returns for his second stint with the Dodgers this season. He and Hunter Feduccia will back up Will Smith while the Dodgers carry three catchers for the time being.

The son of former big league catcher Eliezer Alfonzo has played in 12 games for the Dodgers, batting .185 with two doubles and four RBIs. He was batting .302 with two homers and 25 RBI with Triple-A Oklahoma City this season.

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Rushing, 25, returned from the injured list Tuesday and played in four games as he attempts to avoid surgery on the sprained UCL in his right elbow.

But after complaining of elbow soreness after throwing Saturday, Rushing was a late lineup scratch at DH. He’s 0-for-4 at the plate since returning.

Rushing has appeared in 78 games in his second MLB season, hitting .249 with 12 homers and 36 RBIs. If the Dodgers determine he can neither hit nor throw while dealing with the elbow injury, his season could be over and surgery could be in his near future.

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The Dodgers’ next move with Ohtani is less clear-cut.

Ohtani went 0 for 4 with four strikeouts Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. He hasn’t pitched since July. If his injuries are keeping him from pitching, and rendering him ineffective at the plate, it makes sense for him to be placed on the IL.

The fact that the Dodgers have resisted that course of action to this point suggests they might try to wait him out another day — or that Ohtani is available to pinch hit against the Nats.

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