Dodgers' Mookie Betts ruled out of Tokyo Series vs. Cubs because of stomach virus
Mookie Betts’ return to shortstop will have to wait until the Dodgers return home from Japan.
Betts will miss both of the Dodgers’ season-opening games at the Tokyo Dome this week against the Chicago Cubs, manager Dave Roberts said Monday, as he continues to recover from a stomach virus that has kept him out of action since last weekend.
Betts is expected to be ready for the Dodgers’ domestic home opener on March 27 against the Detroit Tigers. But in the meantime, Roberts said the Dodgers are “contemplating” sending him back home to Los Angeles early, before the team departs following Wednesday’s second game against the Cubs.
“He’s still trying to find his way [physically],” Roberts said. “I think the question is, what’s best to get him ready for opening day? We’re still talking. That’s on the table.”
Read more:'Paint Japan blue': How the Dodgers' vision of Japanese prominence became reality
Betts first started feeling sick before the team left for Japan last week. He made his final Cactus League appearance on March 9, continuing to transition back to a shortstop position he is slated to play full-time this year after a three-month stint there last year. But after reporting his symptoms to the club the next day, he was held out of the team’s final two games in Arizona.
Roberts said there wasn’t much initial consideration to having Betts miss the trip to Tokyo; nor concern that his illness, which Roberts said doctors didn’t believe was contagious, would spread to others on the team.
However, over the course of his sickness, Betts lost almost 15 pounds, according to Roberts, and looked noticeably slimmer when he arrived in Tokyo. Though he finally began feeling better in recent days, he was still battling lingering effects of dehydration and fatigue.
“The thing is when you lose a lot of weight, when you’re dehydrated, that’s what opens a person up to soft-tissue injuries,” Roberts said. “We’re very mindful of that. So to take the next week, call it, to build him back up, his strength, do some baseball activities to get ready for the home opener.”
Betts didn’t play in either of the Dodgers’ exhibition games against Japanese teams this weekend. During a pregame workout on Sunday, the 32-year-old former MVP looked visibly tired while taking ground balls, resting his hands on his knees several times between drills.
Read more:Dodgers fall to Hanshin Tigers in final tuneup before start of season
Betts was scheduled to participate in an off-day workout Monday, but ended up scrapping the session.
Roberts said the added toll of Betts’ move back to shortstop contributed to the team’s decision to hold him out of Tuesday and Wednesday’s season-opening games.
The manager also acknowledged that, if the Dodgers had known Betts wouldn’t be able to play in Tokyo, they likely would have had him stay back from the trip.
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Topics
-
Dodgers star Mookie Betts won't play in 2 regular season games vs. Cubs in Tokyo because of illness
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts will not play in the two-game Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs because of an illness that's lingered for the past week. Manager Dave Roberts said ...Yahoo Sports - 10h -
Betts (illness) out for Tokyo Series; lost 15 pounds
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts will not play in the two-game Tokyo Series against the Cubs because of an illness that's lingered for the past week.ESPN - 13m -
Mookie Betts to sit for exhibitions in Japan, Dodgers will re-evaluate for Tokyo Series
Mookie Betts will be re-evaluated during the team's off-day on Monday, and is questionable to be in the lineup for the club's two regular-season-opening games at the Tokyo Dome.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Dodgers' Betts to miss Japan games with illness
Shortstop Mookie Betts will miss the Los Angeles Dodgers' two exhibition games in Japan because of an illness, manager Dave Roberts said Saturday.ESPN - 2d -
Dodgers' Betts dealing with illness in Japan, Roberts hopeful he'll be ready for opening day
Shortstop Mookie Betts will miss the Los Angeles Dodgers' two exhibition games in Japan because of an illness, manager Dave Roberts said Saturday. Roberts said he's still hopeful that the ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Mookie Betts may miss Dodgers' season-opening Tokyo Series due to illness
Betts didn't play in either of the Dodgers' exhibitions in Tokyo versus the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers.Yahoo Sports - 21h -
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 ...Yahoo Sports - 23h -
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 ...ABC News - 1d -
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs: How to watch the MLB Tokyo series
The L.A. Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs will kick off the 2025 MLB season with two games in Tokyo – here's how to watch all the international action.Yahoo Sports - 1h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins reportedly both agree to contract extensions with Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have reached contract extensions with both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, according to multiple reports.Yahoo Sports - 7m -
Steelers agree to sign DL Daniel Ekuale
The Steelers are kicking off the week by making an addition to their defensive line.Yahoo Sports - 9m -
Son of former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher will play international soccer. But not for England
The son of former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher has been called up for international duty — by Malta. James Carragher, a defender for Wigan in English soccer’s third tier, ...Yahoo Sports - 9m -
Between the Columns for Monday, March 17
Today will mostly be NCAA Tournament thoughts since we finally know where the Tigers are headed. The Tigers are headed to Wichita for a matchup with the Drake Bulldogs on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. My ...Yahoo Sports - 10m -
Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva leading contenders if Tottenham sack Ange Postecoglou
Andoni Iraola and Marco Silva will be among the leading candidates to succeed Ange Postecoglou if Tottenham Hotspur feel forced into changing the club’s head coach.Yahoo Sports - 12m
More in Sports
-
WNBA trade grades: Did the defending champion Liberty get even better in trade for Cloud?
Natasha Cloud gives New York another skilled distributor and a stronger defense, while Connecticut gains two first-round picks to help its rebuild.ESPN - 5m -
Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins reportedly both agree to contract extensions with Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have reached contract extensions with both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, according to multiple reports.Yahoo Sports - 7m -
Steelers agree to sign DL Daniel Ekuale
The Steelers are kicking off the week by making an addition to their defensive line.Yahoo Sports - 9m -
Son of former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher will play international soccer. But not for England
The son of former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher has been called up for international duty — by Malta. James Carragher, a defender for Wigan in English soccer’s third tier, ...Yahoo Sports - 9m -
Between the Columns for Monday, March 17
Today will mostly be NCAA Tournament thoughts since we finally know where the Tigers are headed. The Tigers are headed to Wichita for a matchup with the Drake Bulldogs on Thursday at 6:35 p.m. My ...Yahoo Sports - 10m