Handicappers have seen some injuries this spring that could carry over to the start of the baseball regular season. The Los Angeles Dodgers are hurting as catcher Russell Martin has a pulled right groin while Kansas City third baseman Alex Gordon has a broken thumb. Both could miss the start of the online sportsbook baseball regular season.
Sportsbook odds almost assuredly won’t have Martin in the starting lineup on opening day for the Dodgers. He is expected to be out of action for four to six weeks. He might even need a minor league rehab after coming back. He is not expected to make it back in time for the opener on April 5th as the Dodgers are in Pittsburgh. “I would guess [he’ll miss it],” Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. “I think that was part of what made him continue to play and do other things after he felt a little [discomfort] the other day. He didn’t feel like it was any big deal, and he was able to do everything.” Martin struggled at the plate least year when he hit .250 with seven homers and 53 RBIs. He came into this year’s camp in better shape and was looking at having a much better season in 2010.
Martin is hoping to be back for the baseball online sportsbook season opener. “I’m planning to be ready to go,” Martin said. “I’m not planning on missing the first game of the season.” The Dodgers will go with A.J. Ellis and veteran Brad Ausmus until Martin returns. “We’ll see,” Torre said. “I think by [Opening Day], it will still be A.J. and Ausmus, but I think it’s a matter of trying to figure out what the balance of playing time will be. Ausmus has played every day in the past and he is used to playing every day, even though he was a backup for us last year.”
Kansas City is in a similar situation with Alex Gordon who has a broken right thumb. Manager Trey Hillman said Sunday that Gordon probably will miss the sportsbook baseball opener on April 5th. Gordon is hopeful to be back though. “That’s the way I’m taking it,” Gordon said. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to get into games at the end of spring training. I really haven’t found out exactly the timetable and maybe if I can come back earlier or not. We’re just going to see how the first couple of days progress and go from there.” Gordon hit just .232 with six homers and 22 RBIs last year.