The excitement of the Los Angeles Dodgers fielding a roster with two MVPs in their outfield has been tempered some over the past few days as both Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts were scratched from a lineup in separate cases.
For Bellinger, he missed two games because of a knot in his back that was speculated to have been the result of taking golf swings at an Albert Pujols charity event. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Bellinger refuted that notion, and the 2017 National League MVP hit a home run in his return to the lineup.
Meanwhile, Betts was scratched Saturday because of an upset stomach, and he again was out of the lineup the following day because of the issue.
Roberts initially didn’t anticipate Betts playing until the team returns from an off day, though that has since changed to Monday, according to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
Dave Roberts said Mookie Betts still has stomach discomfort. Won’t play until Wednesday night (Tuesday is a day off).
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 7, 2020
Roberts said he’s not overly concerned with Betts and believes it was food-related.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 7, 2020
Dave Roberts said Mookie Betts might return to the lineup on Monday instead of Wednesday.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) March 7, 2020
Betts is 5-for-19 with one double, one RBI and one walk in seven Cactus League games thus far. He’s started in right field and batted leadoff in each; both are spots the 2018 American League MVP made it clear he is most comfortable in, and specifically with the consistency of knowing where he will be.
While Betts has shown flashes of his talent on the field, it was his team address on the first day the full squad was in camp that’s resonated. Justin Turner described Betts challenging the Dodgers as a positive and approach the team welcomed.
“To come in, first day, get in front of the team and kind of challenge everybody, I think kind of surprised a lot of guys,” Turner said. “I think we love that we have that in our clubhouse.
“He’s a guy that has the résumé, has the accolades, the pedigree, that when he speaks, guys are going to listen. Guys are going to be curious, guys are going to learn a little bit more.
“It makes it easier when you say stuff like that but you hold yourself to the same accountability. It makes it easier to stand up and preach to a team when you practice and play the way that you talk about. It was good.”
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