Controversial Dodger Faces Do-or-Die Test Ahead of Postseason

The Los Angeles Dodgers will see Dalton Rushing make his return from the injured list on Friday, but the second-year player faces a crucial test ahead of the postseason. Manager Dave Roberts has informed Rushing that he will only get a maximum of three at-bats before the team's upcoming match against the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

Roberts indicated that Rushing's performance throughout the rest of the year and his previous season statistics will also be taken into account for his postseason roster eligibility. Rushing sustained a partial UCL tear earlier in the season, which initially landed him on the injured list on August 3. He returned to the roster nearly a month later, but the injury flared up again just a few days later, sending him back to the injured list on September 6.

Before his injury, Rushing had an impressive season, posting a .820 OPS with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs over 74 games played through July. After his return from the injured list, Rushing struggled, going hitless in four at-bats and striking out three times. With his competition for a postseason spot coming from promising prospect Josue De Paula, Rushing will need to prove himself in the few at-bats Roberts has granted him.

De Paula, just 21 years old, has stepped up in the Dodgers' lineup since moving to Triple-A, appearing in 11 games after Shohei Ohtani's injury. De Paula has hit one home run, driven in seven runs, and boasts a .500 on-base percentage and a 1.081 OPS over his brief big league career. If Rushing cannot demonstrate his value during his brief window, De Paula could play a pivotal role for the Dodgers in the postseason.