The Los Angeles Dodgers scored double-digit runs on Saturday for the second consecutive game but saw Mookie Betts leave in the first inning because of right lower back pain.
Betts was removed when the bottom of the first inning began, which was minutes after he scored from first base on Freddie Freeman’s double. Miguel Rojas spent the remainder of the game at shortstop in Betts’ place.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the win that Betts was scheduled to undergo an MRI and likely wouldn’t be in the lineup for the series finale against the Washington Nationals.
Roberts described Betts’ back injury as “more moderate than significant.”
“I don’t want to get too far ahead with what we’re going to do, but we’ll huddle up and see if we need to get a player here. He certainly won’t be playing the next couple days, I assume,” Roberts added.
Betts didn’t show any clear signs of back trouble while running the bases and Roberts said it wasn’t relayed to him until after he’d been in the dugout.
Dave Roberts reacts to Mookie Betts’ injury
Betts is dealing with back trouble one day after hitting his second home run of the season. He was among multiple Dodgers to get off to a slow start this season but maintained he nor others were panicked.
“Disappointed for him because we’re sort of starting to get going a little bit. The way he’s playing defense, he’s a big part of what we do,” Roberts said. “Any time you miss, it’s going to take some time to kind of get your footing. So disappointed for him but hopeful it’s not long-term.”
The Dodgers don’t have another off day until Thursday. And while the team will await the MRI results to make a final roster decision, it’s plausible Betts is going to be put on the 10-day injured list.
Hyeseong Kim and Ryan Fitzgerald are presumed to be candidates to get added onto the Dodgers roster in that case. Though with Fitzgerald, he first would need to be put on their 40-man roster, which is currently full.
If Betts lands on the IL, the Dodgers will be without their expected starting middle infielders as Tommy Edman is still on the mend from having right ankle surgery during the offseason.
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