The Los Angeles Dodgers are inching closer to the end of the MLB season and have been in a tight race with the San Francisco Giants for the top spot in the National League West. But, the Dodgers might have to play the remainder of the regular season without Cody Bellinger, who landed on the IL according to Kyle Glaser of Baseball America.
The Dodgers have placed Cody Bellinger on the injured list with a left rib fracture. This is Bellinger's third time on the IL this season.
— Kyle Glaser (@KyleAGlaser) September 21, 2021
This is just another brutal injury to Bellinger, who has been hit hard by injuries this season after having shoulder surgery in the offseason. His injury luck in 2021 has been absolutely unreal.
Cody Bellinger's 2021 timeline:
– Offseason shoulder surgery
– Left calf contusion (one week into season)
– Left hamstring tightness (2 weeks after returning)
– Left rib fracture— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) September 21, 2021
On top of that, Bellinger's 2021 campaign has been a disaster. He has a .159 batting average with nine home runs and 31 RBIs and he could very well miss the rest of the regular season–and more.
The injuries haven't helped him either, and perhaps that is a huge reason why he has struggled to hit the ball this year, especially compared to the previous seasons. The status of Bellinger will be one to monitor, and even though he has had a bit of a down year, the Dodgers would still love to have him available for the playoffs, although it seems a bit unlikely at this point.