After a historic month of August, Mookie Betts has had a slow start to September, which was in line with how the Los Angeles Dodgers played as a whole.
Heading into the series finale against the Miami Marlins on Thursday, Betts was hitless in four of five games before going 1-for-2 in the Dodgers’ 10-0 win. However, Betts suffered an injury during the game and left the stadium on crutches after taking an X-ray that came back negative.
On Friday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Betts is still dealing with soreness that will likely keep him out for the series against the Washington Nationals and is set to undergo additional testing, via MLB Network Radio:
“Today he’s going to get a CT scan later this afternoon, here locally in D.C. And that should be even more telling, give us a little bit more information. He’s really sore, so my expectation is that he’s down for the weekend series here in D.C. and he’ll be ready to go on Monday. That’s my hope and our expectation, but again, we’ve got to kind of see how that CT plays out.”
While the Dodgers hope to get Betts back in the lineup in a few days, it’s impossible to predict how long he’ll be out until the results of the CT scan come back.
If he were to miss any sort of extended absence, the Dodgers would be able to get by in the regular season with an already-large lead in the National League West standings and their playoff seeding all but officially locked up.
But if that extends into the postseason, it would be another hit to a club that is already facing an uphill battle with multiple injuries that may ultimately prove to be too challenging to overcome.
Along with the injury to Betts, the Dodgers announced Walker Buehler will not return this season, Clayton Kershaw is pitching through a left shoulder injury, and Julio Urías is unlikely to see the field again after being arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence.
Betts was making a push for the NL MVP Award while hitting .314 with a 1.020 on-base plus slugging and providing versatility in the outfield and infield.
J.D. Martinez gain lineup boost amid Mookie Betts injury
Although losing Betts for at least the next few games is a blow for the Dodgers, they did add an All-Star back into their lineup by activating J.D. Martinez off the 10-day injured list.
Martinez was placed on the IL on August 22 due to left groin tightness, which he was dealing with for roughly one month before the Dodgers made the roster move.
To make room on the active roster, Michael Busch was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
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