The Los Angeles Dodgers have been hit hard by injuries throughout the 2026 MLB season. Despite this, Los Angeles enters Friday’s matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies with a 36-20 record and in first place in the National League West. While the Dodgers have had to shake up their lineup as of late, the back-to-back defending World Series champions are seeking their sixth consecutive victory on Friday night.
The organization recently suffered a significant setback as veteran outfielder Teoscar Hernández suffered a left hamstring strain on Wednesday while running out a ground ball against the Colorado Rockies. Following the injury news, fellow Dodger Kiké Hernández sent a message of support to his teammate on his Instagram story.
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The injury is expected to sideline Hernández for at least a few weeks and leaves a significant void in the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup. The 33-year-old two-time All-Star was officially placed on the 10-day IL on Thursday after emerging as one of the Dodgers’ hottest hitters over the past several weeks.
Hernández shared an Instagram story featuring a photo of himself embracing Teoscar Hernández on the field at Dodger Stadium. Kiké included the caption, “Vamos a estar bien,” which translates to “we are going to be okay” in English.
Before landing on the injured list, Teoscar had been one of the Dodgers' most productive hitters. In 51 games this season, he is batting .276 with a .785 OPS and seven home runs.
At the same time, Kiké Hernández is currently dealing with an injury of his own. After missing the first two months of the season while recovering from elbow surgery, the 34-year-old super-utility player returned for only two games before suffering a left oblique strain that sent him back to the injured list. Kiké’s injury is a major setback for Los Angeles, considering he was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a home run in his only two games.
Los Angeles will now hope both players can make successful returns later this season as the organization continues its pursuit of a third consecutive World Series championship.
