The Los Angeles Dodgers may be without one of their star players on Tuesday when they begin a two-game series against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, Japan, to kick off the MLB season.
According to reports, shortstop Mookie Betts is dealing with an illness, and it is unknown if he will be healthy enough and over it before Tuesday’s opening game.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted that Betts has been “really sick ” and has begun to lose weight. He did not seem confident that the shortstop would be able to play on Opening Day.
“I think that we’re really trying to be mindful of not just Opening Day but not putting him in harm’s way,” said the Dodgers manager when speaking about the possibility of Betts playing. “He hasn’t taken live at-bats or played in any games and not to put him in a position where he could potentially get hurt.”
Losing a player the caliber of Betts would be an unfortunate loss for the Dodgers, but if any team is loaded from top to bottom and can withstand the loss, it is Los Angeles.
The replacement for Betts at shortstop will likely be NLCS MVP Tommy Edman. Edman was set to be the starting centerfielder, but he should now slide back into the infield in the absence of Betts.
Moreover, Los Angeles will undoubtedly follow the correct procedures and ensure that Betts is fully healthy and back to full strength when the Dodgers return to the States to host the Detroit Tigers and hang the 2024 World Series banner.
Dodgers’ Mookie Betts still struggling with illness, status for opening day in doubt
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is still struggling to recover from an illness, with manager Dave Roberts pessimistic that the eight-time All-Star will be ready for opening day against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday in Japan
TOKYO — Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is still struggling to recover from an illness, with manager Dave Roberts pessimistic that the eight-time All-Star will be ready for opening day against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday in Japan.
Betts was able to go through a light workout on Sunday, but became tired quickly.
“Really showed some fatigue, understandably so,” Roberts said. “We’ll see how he comes in tomorrow. He should be here for the workout. We’ll try to do a little more tomorrow.”
Roberts said Saturday that Betts started suffering from flu-like symptoms in Arizona, the day before the team left for Japan. He still made the long plane trip, but hasn’t recovered as quickly as hoped.
Roberts said Betts will need to show substantial improvement on Monday to play against the Cubs.
“To be able to go through an entire workout and not feel that same fatigue would give us a chance,” Roberts said. “But anything outside of that, I just don’t think our training staff would feel good about that.”
Betts hasn’t taken live at-bats in nearly a week.
“We’re really trying to be mindful of not just opening day,” Roberts said. “Not putting him in harm’s way. … We don’t want to put him in position where he could get hurt.”
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