Mookie Betts didn’t play within the Dodgers’ 8-5 win over the Yankees on Friday, and the shortstop gained’t be within the beginning lineup for the rest of the collection resulting from a fracture within the tip of his second left toe. Betts and Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts instructed reporters (together with Jack Harris and Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times) {that a} pinch-hit look in the course of the collection remains to be attainable, and the hope is that Betts will be capable to return to the lineup after a number of days of relaxation.
Betts’ damage occurred off the sector, as Betts mentioned that on Wednesday evening, after returning dwelling from the group’s highway journey, he “was simply going to the toilet at midnight and hit my toe on a wall.” It doesn’t seem as if a visit to the injured record is within the playing cards, as Betts mentioned, “it’s simply ache,” and that with some relaxation to “get the swelling out, it’ll be all proper.”
Thursday was an off-day for the Dodgers, so Betts had some speedy recuperation time within the aftermath of the damage. Nevertheless, Los Angeles doesn’t have one other off-day till June 12, as Friday’s tilt with New York started a stretch of 23 video games in 24 days for the Dodgers. Not that there’s ever time to endure a fractured toe, however this busy schedule offers Betts little alternative for extra relaxation if his damage lingers. The presence of Miguel Rojas, Hyeseong Kim, Tommy Edman, and Enrique Hernandez offers the Dodgers fairly a little bit of shortstop depth if Betts has to overlook extra time than anticipated, however L.A. needs its eight-time All-Star again as quickly as attainable.
The toe fracture continues what has been a tough season for Betts, and a down yr by his excessive requirements. Betts misplaced over 15 kilos whereas coping with a extreme flu-like sickness in March that price him the prospect to take part within the Dodgers’ season-opening Tokyo Collection in opposition to the Cubs. He was capable of return to motion for the Dodgers’ first North American recreation on March 27, however Betts has a modest .254/.338/.405 slash line and eight dwelling runs over 234 plate appearances.
This nonetheless interprets to an above-average 111 wRC+, and Betts has walked extra occasions than he has struck out this season, so his batting eye and get in touch with expertise are nonetheless as sharp as ever. The standard of that contact is nicely under Betts’ norms, as his hard-hit ball charges and barrel charges are solely within the twenty fifth percentile of all batters. His .249 BABIP might also be an element, and Betts’ efforts to transition totally to the shortstop place could have taken some focus away from his hitting. Defensively, Betts has proven his mettle (+2 Defensive Runs Saved and a +3 Outs Above Common) over 447 innings on the shortstop place this yr.
