The Los Angeles Dodgers scored first on Saturday for only the second time in eight games so far this season, but it was followed by Mookie Betts being removed from the game.
Miguel Rojas took over at shortstop in the bottom of the first inning. Betts had drawn a walk and scored from first base on Freddie Freeman’s double in the top half of the inning. There wasn’t any overt sign of injury, but the Dodgers announced Betts was removed due to right low back pain.
Betts is looking to rebound from a down 2025 season at the plate that was largely attributed to sudden weight loss brought about by a virus. What he lacked offensively, Betts made up for by becoming a Gold Glove finalist at shortstop.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said during Spring Training he believed Betts was primed for an MVP-caliber season in 2026.
It’s not yet clear if Betts’ back pain will require a stint on the injured list. If he is to miss any time, it will leave the Dodgers without their starting middle infielders. Tommy Edman began the season the 10-day IL as he continues to recover from offseason surgery on his right ankle.
The hope is Edman will be activated in late May.
Mookie Betts not panicking
After a strong showing in Spring Training, Betts was among several Dodgers who then got off to a slow start this season. Betts hit a home run in Friday’s win, his second of the season, but entered the second game of the series against the Nationals batting just .179.
He nevertheless downplayed the notion of there being significant concern within the clubhouse.
“It’s a new day,” Betts said after the Dodgers’ comfortable win. “That’s really it. Nobody in here is panicking or anything. It’s one week and it’s probably not going to be our last week that we don’t hit well. We can’t get emotional. We’ve got to just stay the course.
“Stay the course, and everything will be all right. … Again, we understand you cannot get emotional about it. If we could hit well every day, everybody would be doing it. Everybody goes through their slumps. Everybody goes through their ups and downs. It’s just part of the game.”
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