LOS ANGELES — Supervisor Dave Roberts made the choice to depart Mookie Betts out of the beginning lineup for Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Brewers, giving the beginning shortstop a possibility to reset amid a season-long scuffle on the plate.
“I don’t know the way lengthy it’s going to be,” Roberts stated. “It might be one evening. It might be two. My expectation is he’s going to be again in there tomorrow. However I feel for me, it’s going to be a day-to-day factor. It’s going to be my resolution on how I really feel he’s mentally to tackle that evening’s starter.”
Provided that Betts, together with these of his teammates who had been additionally not in Atlanta for this 12 months’s All-Star festivities, simply acquired 4 days off, this was not a scheduled relaxation day. After seeing Betts’ frustration from earlier than the break lingering into Friday evening’s loss, Roberts determined he wanted extra time.
“He desires to do properly. He’s not used to struggling like this,” Roberts stated. “I feel he’s enjoying nice protection. There’s part of it the place you’re feeling such as you’re letting individuals down, letting the group down. That weight that’s simply pure for him to hold is there.”
Via 90 video games this season, Betts is slashing .241/.311/.377 with 11 homers, 45 RBIs and 56 runs scored. His .688 OPS was higher than solely Michael Conforto’s .615 mark among the many Dodgers’ eight certified hitters coming into Saturday’s motion.
It has been removed from a typical 12 months for Betts, who misplaced 18 kilos after contracting a abdomen sickness on the finish of Spring Coaching and was nonetheless regaining power early within the common season. He additionally had a freak damage at first of June, fracturing one of many toes on his left foot at his dwelling.
Betts has circuitously attributed his struggles to his sickness or damage, nor to his place change to shortstop.
“It has been actually powerful. However it sort of is what it’s,” Betts stated on the finish of June. “I’ve by no means performed brief daily, however I do not suppose that is actually enjoying an element. Being sick and simply sort of enjoying catchup — there’s quite a lot of variables that go into it, however you bought to determine it out.”
Betts is not the one one scuffling within the vaunted high three of the Dodgers’ lineup — since June 1, Shohei Ohtani, Betts and Freddie Freeman have mixed to put up a .679 OPS. Earlier than then, the trio of MVPs had mixed for a .959 OPS.
Roberts stated whereas there was some considered shifting Betts out of the two-hole — the place he is completely began this season — he’s anticipated to return to that spot within the order when he is again within the lineup.
“If I felt a change, a unique look within the lineup would assist efficiency, I might do it. I’d be all in,” Roberts stated. “However the place he’s at, I simply don’t suppose shifting him down, I don’t suppose it will have an effect on the psyche. I simply don’t suppose it will be useful.”
