LOS ANGELES – There was a substitute in the lineup in the left side of the Braves infield for Thursday's series finale against the Dodgers, but it wasn't shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who winced and grimaced some from soreness in his right shoulder after making an off-balance throw late in Wednesday's 10-inning loss.
Simmons was in lineup Thursday but third baseman Chris Johnson was not. Since Johnson was 1-for-12 with four strikeouts against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez figured it was a good night to give rookie utility player Phil Gosselin his second major league start and first start at third base.
As for Simmons, the shorstop said his shoulder has bothered him at times for several weeks, but he downplayed the situation and characterized it as nothing more than the usual bumps and bruises that players get by this point in the 162-game season. He iced it after Wednesday’s game, as he usually does, and again before batting practice Thursday.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez was asked about it after Wednesday’s game and again Thursday. Gonzalez said head trainer Jeff Porter would let him know if there was anything to be concerned about with Simmons’ shoulder.
“I mean, he’s fine,” Gonzalez said. “If it was something more than (bumps and bruises) then I wouldn’t play him. He’s fine.”
