The Los Angeles Dodgers fell behind early and dropped a second consecutive game to the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, losing their first series in nearly a month.
As the club faced a 3-0 deficit in the sixth inning, Mookie Betts was removed from the game. Chris Taylor replaced him in center field as Gavin Lux entered at shortstop.
Betts had gone hitless in three at-bats prior to be taken out. After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained that his early exit was due to a stomach issue.
“He gave whatever he had,” Roberts said. “It was kind of a gametime decision and he wanted to be out there. I think it was in the fifth or sixth inning, he had some stuff coming up again.
“Just couldn’t keep going. I didn’t want to put him in harm’s way, so got Luxy in there. Just hope he feels better [Wednesday].”
With the Dodgers looking to salvage their series against the Padres and avoid being swept for the first time since May, Roberts is optimistic Betts will be in the lineup on Wednesday. “My expectation is that he will, but I just really won’t know until he shows up,” Roberts said.
Betts’ illness comes an inopportune time as he has been seeing the ball much better as of late. He nonetheless believes his swing is still a work in progress.
“I mean, it’s been so in and out, it’s kind of tough to say,” Betts said last week. “I’m just trying to take one day at a time, just focus that way and maybe in a month or so we can kind of take a look back. Right now it’s just one game at a time.”
Bellinger expected to play in Wednesday’s series finale against Padres
Whether or not Betts plays on Wednesday, the Dodgers lineup still stands to receive a boost with the expected return of Cody Bellinger from the 10-day injured list.
Max Muncy was reinstated from the IL on Tuesday and went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks in his first game back.
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