Mookie Betts was hit on the left hand by a Dan Altavilla fastball as we speak, inflicting Betts to drop to the bottom in speedy ache after which go away the sector. Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts informed reporters (together with Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Occasions) after the sport that Betts has a fractured bone within the hand and might be out of motion “for a while,” although the previous AL MVP received’t require surgical procedure.
Extra might be identified about Betts’ standing and a possible restoration timeline within the coming days, however that is undoubtedly an enormous blow for the Dodgers. As with every wrist- or hand-related damage, there’s loads of potential for lingering after-effects even after a participant is formally cleared for motion, given how any adjustments to grip or hand positioning on a bat can alter a swing. The primary order of enterprise for Betts and the Dodgers is simply to handle this damage and the restoration in addition to potential, although the priority received’t go away till Betts is each again on the sector and displaying his common famous person type on the plate.
Heading into as we speak’s sport, Betts was hitting .307/.407/.493 with 10 homers over a league-leading 327 plate appearances, including 16 doubles and 9 stolen bases (in 10 makes an attempt) to these spectacular numbers. Along with that sometimes wonderful offensive manufacturing, Betts has additionally been taking part in a key defensive position for the Dodgers as their on a regular basis shortstop, a job Betts adopted throughout Spring Coaching after Gavin Lux was moved off the place. Whereas defensive metrics have been combined at greatest on Betts’ glovework, merely the truth that Betts was keen to vary positions and not less than passably dealt with the shortstop position simply added to his significance to the L.A. roster.
The Dodgers have been nonetheless anticipated to pursue center infield assist on the deadline, each as a result of Lux hasn’t hit a lot, and to doubtlessly hasten Betts’ transfer again to second base if a brand new on a regular basis shortstop was obtained. Right now’s developments most likely make it even likelier that Los Angeles will look so as to add a shortstop no matter how a lot time Betts misses, although it stays to be seen whether or not or not the Dodgers now look to make an acquisition sooner fairly than later. The staff will first wish to entry Betts’ well being, after all, and groups with accessible infield depth may immediately increase their asking costs in the event that they understand the Dodgers are in any means determined.
Within the brief time period, Roberts mentioned that Miguel Vargas might be known as again up from Triple-A to rejoin the infield combine. Miguel Rojas will get the majority of normal shortstop obligation, with Enrique Hernandez additionally factoring in at each shortstop and third base. Max Muncy remains to be sidelined with a lingering indirect damage and Roberts mentioned as we speak that Muncy’s restoration has been “even slower than anticipated,” so it’s anybody’s guess as to when the third baseman may have the ability to assist a suddenly-depleted Dodgers infield. Cavan Biggio was not too long ago acquired from the Blue Jays so as to add to the depth combine, so Betts’ absence will open up extra taking part in time for Biggio at second or third base.
Rojas has lengthy been a superb defender, and he has been surprisingly productive on the dish with a .278/.328/.444 slash line over 116 PA this season. His 122 wRC+ could be the second-best mark of his 11-year MLB profession, although it’s clearly a attain to count on Rojas to maintain this up for a prolonged period of time, provided that he isn’t making a lot onerous contact on the plate.
Though the Dodgers lineup is stuffed with massive bats, shedding Betts additionally underlines the membership’s considerably top-heavy nature. Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, and Teoscar Hernandez have all been raking and Muncy was hitting nicely pre-injury, however Lux, Enrique Hernandez, and Chris Taylor have all been ice chilly, whereas James Outman was struggling a lot that Los Angeles optioned the outfielder to Triple-A.
With a 44-29 report, the Dodgers have arguably constructed up sufficient of a cushion to resist shedding Betts for a little bit of time, as there doesn’t look like any hazard that Los Angeles would immediately fall out of the playoff race. Nonetheless, it may well’t be ignored that the Dodgers at the moment are with out Betts, Muncy, and greater than a whole rotation’s price of beginning pitchers, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Michael Grove becoming a member of the lengthy record of injured hurlers earlier as we speak. The Dodgers have been in a position to each face up to and even thrive regardless of heavy accidents in previous seasons, but if this lacking personnel is sufficient to drop the Dodgers out of a first-round postseason bye, it’s going to give the staff an much more troublesome path to a World Sequence title.
