Yasiel Puig out of Dodgers lineup against Colorado Rockies

Yasiel Puig, hampered by a sore hamstring that has bothered him for almost a week, was not in the Dodgers’ starting lineup Sunday.

Puig sat out four days after originally reporting tightness in the hamstring, then returned Saturday but appeared to be uncomfortable as he ran. Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said Puig was sore Sunday but might be available to pinch-hit and said he hoped Puig could start when the Dodgers open their next series Tuesday in San Francisco.

“We don’t feel like there’s any injury,” Mattingly said, calling the decision to rest Puig “precautionary.”

The Dodgers went for a sweep of the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, and their seventh consecutive victory overall.

Although a torn hamstring could sideline Puig for weeks, Mattingly said the Dodgers’ medical staff is confident there is no undue risk in keeping him on the active roster rather than putting him on the 15-day disabled list to ensure the hamstring heals.

“The DL was part of a conversation earlier,” Mattingly said. “If they say DL, I’m fine with it. I like the way Andre [Ethier] is playing. I’m not going to push to get Yasiel in the lineup. It’s way too early in the season for that.”

Puig made a base-running error on Saturday, deciding to try to tag from first base rather than run halfway to second on a fly ball. When a Colorado outfielder missed a diving catch, Puig had to stop at second, forcing Adrian Gonzalez to stop at first base rather than proceeding to second for what would have been a double.

Mattingly acknowledged Puig had not read the play properly. But Mattingly reminded reporters that other players make mistakes and said he usually is asked only about the mistakes Puig makes.

“It’s kind of confusing to me,” Mattingly said. “He doesn’t seem to get away with anything.”