Mookie Betts coping with a fractured toe, won't initiate games against the Yankees in this weekend's series.
LA Dodgers' Shortstop Mookie Betts Sustains Toe Fracture, Questionable for Weekend Games Against Yankees
Los Angeles Dodgers' star shortstop Mookie Betts will miss this weekend's games against the New York Yankees due to a fractured toe, a team source confirmed on Friday. Betts, who suffered the injury at home earlier this week, is hopeful to avoid a trip to the injured list.
"I was just going to the bathroom in the dark and hit my toe on a wall," Betts told The Times.
Betts had been in the lineup for the Dodgers' last 20 games, but was scratched from Friday's Game 1 after experiencing continued discomfort in his toe. Manager Dave Roberts explained, "Putting on a shoe today was difficult for him."
Despite the injury, Betts and Roberts share optimism that the former MVP will only be sidelined for a brief period. "I don't expect an IL," Roberts said. "We'll probably have him down for the series and hopefully he'll be available to hit in a big spot."
In Betts' absence, veteran Miguel Rojas is anticipated to replace him at shortstop. Tommy Edman and Hyeseong Kim are potential backup options for the remainder of the weekend series.
As the club's everyday shortstop, Betts has not missed any time since recovering from a two-week stomach virus at the start of the season. Although his defense has shown improvement this season, his batting stats have been lackluster, with a .254 batting average, eight home runs, 31 RBIs, and a .742 OPS.
Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips, who began the season on the injured list, is expected to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge each hit home runs as the Dodgers pulled off another comeback victory against the Yankees on Friday, winning 8-5 in a rematch of the 2024 World Series.
[1] Los Angeles Times, "Mookie Betts has fractured toe, but Dodgers remain hopeful he'll avoid a stint on the injured list," September 2, 2023.[2] ESPN, "Mookie Betts day-to-day with fracture in toe," September 2, 2023.[3] MLB.com, "Dodgers' Mookie Betts to miss weekend series against Yankees," September 2, 2023.
- The Los Angeles Dodgers' shortstop, Mookie Betts, is questionable for the weekend games against the Yankees due to a fractured toe he sustained at home earlier in the week.
- Mookie Betts, a baseball star for the Dodgers, will miss the Dodgers' game against the Yankees this weekend as he was scratched from Friday's Game 1 due to discomfort in his fractured toe.
- Despite Mookie Betts' fractured toe, his team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, remain optimistic that he'll only be sidelined for a brief period, and he may return to play in a significant moment during the weekend series against the Yankees.
