When Mookie Betts explained his decision to skip participation in the 2021 MLB All-Star Game, it was to recover from what he described as nagging injuries. Those were believed to be left shoulder trouble and back soreness that led to brief stretches of missed time in the first half.
Betts came out of the All-Star break on a tear and looking refreshed, but was removed early on July 17 due to a previously undisclosed right hip issue. That since has been referred to both as a hip pointer and inflammation, and limited the five-time All-Star in the second half.
After coming out early from last Saturday’s game, Betts was not in the lineup for the Freeway Series finale. Monday’s off day gave him another opportunity to rest and receive treatment, and Betts was in the initial lineup for the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies.
However, he was ultimately scratched and now may be looking at a second stint on the 10-day injured list, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said a return to the injured list for Betts is likely. “Yesterday, the off day, he came in just achy, sore. Basically can’t play,” Roberts said Tuesday.
“I don’t know what other tests we may do. But to envision an IL (move) happening is very probable. I don’t know the answer. I don’t think anyone does. We’ve given it days. It almost seems like when he comes off the off day it’s worse. I don’t know the answer. … I’m frustrated for Mookie because he wants to be out there but he can’t physically do it.”
Betts only started in five games since coming off the IL on Aug. 1. The Dodgers tried to further manage Betts through the pain by playing him at second base for three of those.
“I think it’s something that as we look out we’re probably going to have to manage it a lot. Ideally we wouldn’t. Our reality is it’s something that’s not going to go away,” Roberts said over the weekend.
“Mookie is doing what he can to give us innings out there defensively, give us at-bats, play with a governor on, so we’ve just got to manage him. Fortunately, we’ve got a lot of good players that can help support.”
Betts playing through significant hip injury
Neither Betts nor the Dodgers have gone into much detail or specifics with his hip trouble, but the 28-year-old did recently share some insight that made it apparent most players would be shut down by the injury for the remainder of the season.
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