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Mookie Betts Expected To Be In Dodgers Lineup For Padres Series

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been bit by the injury bug through the first month of the season, with the likes of Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts and Gavin Lux, among others missing time thus far.

Betts was out of the lineup for one week earlier this month due to lower back stiffness. He returned to play in seven games before enduring another injury on a hit by pitch. Fortunately for Betts and the Dodgers, the 95 mph fastball struck him on the inside of his right forearm.

X-rays came back negative, though Betts was experiencing soreness and held out of Tuesday’s series finale against the Seattle Mariners. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he potentially would be available for a pinch-run scenario, but not to play the field or pinch-hit.

Betts didn’t wind up appearing in the 1-0 win, though benefitted from treatment throughout the afternoon and should be in the Dodgers lineup when they begin a four-game set with the San Diego Padres.

“He felt better as the day progressed, so my expectation is that he’ll be in there on Thursday,” Roberts said.

The outcome and prognosis is what Roberts wished for as he came out of the dugout to check on Betts, who was writhing in pain upon being hit. “I was hoping that it would be something soft tissue as opposed to the wrist, the elbow or something like that,” Roberts said.

“I guess best-case scenario, and there was a sigh of exhale once he wanted to stay in there. That’s part of it, the soreness, but I think we dodged a bullet.”

Dodgers roster outlook

Last weekend the Dodgers optioned Matt Beaty but rather than replace him with a position player, recalled Alex Vesia. The left-hander was then optioned the following afternoon as a corresponding move to reinstating Brusdar Graterol from the 10-day injured list.

That still left the Dodgers with 14 pitchers on their active roster, which Roberts anticipates holding true unless Betts’ injury dictates otherwise. “Assuming Mookie is fine on Thursday, I think it will be status quo,” Roberts said.

“Certainly things could change, but I would think we kind of stay the course.”

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Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com