The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday without Mookie Betts, who was scratched from the lineup due to right ankle soreness.
The seven-time All-Star sustained the injury while attempting to avoid being hit by a pitch in the series opener on Friday. “You saw there was a ball that came at his head, and he did a little Matrix move to get out of the way,” manager Dave Roberts explained.
“The right ankle gave way a little bit, so he’s day-to-day. There was some minor swelling and soreness. Just in talking to the trainer, felt it was best to give him today (off).”
Betts’ injury is considered minor and did not require an MRI. “Nothing. No kind of examination testing, but physical and stuff like that, we’ve done that,” Roberts said.
Although it appears Betts will avoid a stint on the 10-day injured list, he was held out of the Dodgers lineup in Sunday’s series finale as well. The 30-year-old should benefit from a break in the Dodgers’ schedule and potentially return on Tuesday when the team continues their homestand against the Oakland Athletics.
“He’s progressing. I think for me, just looking at where he’s at, it’s day-to-day. Could he play? Certainly,” Roberts said Sunday.
“With an off day tomorrow, is it more beneficial to potentially give him three days off? Absolutely. We’ve got a long stretch coming and a lot of baseball left. So for me, my decision, I felt it was a no-brainer to give him an extra day. Is he available off the bench? I’ll make that decision when the time comes.”
Betts has appeared in 99 of the Dodgers’ 104 games this season and is hitting a stellar .277/.383/.560 with 26 doubles, 27 home runs and 68 RBI across 460 plate appearances.
Mookie Betts & Freddie Freeman win Kershaw’s Challenge Ping Pong 4 Purpose
Clayton and Ellen Kershaw welcomed his Dodgers teammates, celebrities and professional athletes to Dodger Stadium this past Thursday for the 10th annual Kershaw’s Challenge Ping Pong 4 Purpose.
Kershaw and Austin Barnes advanced to the championship round, where they squared off against Betts and Freddie Freeman. A competitive match was won by Betts and Freeman, who celebrated by doing the All-Star first baseman’s dance from the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Blue Diamond Gala that went viral.
Money raised during the 2023 Ping Pong 4 Purpose was to support this year’s Kershaw’s Challenge beneficiaries: The Dream Center, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, Arise Africa, Both Ends Believing, International Justice Mission and Hope Walks.
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