Dodgers discouraging players from sliding headfirst

In a season where a pair of the game's biggest superstars have gone down with thumb injuries, the Los Angeles Dodgers don't plan on providing the third.

As such, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is actively discouraging his clubhouse from sliding headfirst.

On May 28, Mike Trout slid headfirst, jammed his thumb on the base, and ended up requiring surgery. The Los Angeles Angels cornerstone would go on to spend nearly seven full weeks on the disabled list.

Now, Carlos Correa requires the same surgery and is expected to miss between six and eight weeks. The Houston Astros shortstop did not directly attribute his injury to a slide, though Correa did jam his thumb sliding into home on July 4.

Whether Trout and Correa denote the formation of a trend, it is notable that a team is instructing players to avoid sliding headfirst. While teams can never guarantee the health of their players, sliding feet-first may be a sound strategy to avoid injury.

Interestingly, the Dodgers skipper gave these instructions on the same day Steven Souza of the Tampa Bay Rays was removed from a game against the Oakland Athletics with a hip injury after sliding feet-first. However, Rays manager Kevin Cash was "pretty optimistic" the outfielder would avoid a trip to the disabled list.