The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Mookie Betts on the 10-day injured list with right hip inflammation and reinstated Jimmy Nelson minutes before first pitch on Sunday. Betts’ stint is retroactive to July 22, which makes Saturday, Aug. 1, the earliest he can be activated.
That nevertheless rules out Betts appearing in this week’s series against the San Francisco Giants, which Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had been hopeful for. That was one reason the Dodgers initially were hesitant to place Betts on the IL.
However, in ultimately doing so but waiting until after Friday, they lost two days worth of time on the IL since Betts last played in a game when making a pinch-hit appearance on July 19.
Betts played through lingering hip discomfort during the first half of the season and that was a factor — along with left shoulder and back trouble — to his skipping the 2021 MLB All-Star Game and instead rest and recover.
Betts aggravated the hip during the series at Coors Field and this was said to have been the worst discomfort he’s experienced all season. “He got a cortisone shot a couple days ago, so kind of hoping that dissipates some of the pain,” Roberts revealed on Saturday.
“I know he wants to get in there, but the pain is just not allowing for him to be in there. Hopefully with this shot, that will dissipate and we can get him back moving around and in the lineup.”
Betts has also battled left shoulder and back trouble this season.
Nelson adds to Dodgers bullpen
Nelson returns from a second stint on the IL and after recovering from a left lumbar strain. He’s 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA in 20 games this season.
Nelson had been out since July 9 (retroactive to July 7) with the lumbar strain. He joins a Dodgers bullpen that’s squandered late leads over the past week and should take some pressure of Joe Kelly, who has been dealing with arm soreness.
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