Will Mookie Betts Play for Dodgers in Tokyo Series? Dave Roberts Reveals Latest
Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts has been sidelined by an illness during the team’s trip to Japan, but manager Dave Roberts provided the latest update on his status for Opening Day.
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“I think that we’re really trying to be mindful of not just Opening Day, but not putting him in harm’s way,” Roberts said. “He hasn’t taken live at-bats or played in any games and not to put him in a position where he potentially could get hurt.”
Betts has not played in either exhibition game against the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers at the Tokyo Dome. He also missed the final two Cactus League games because of the illness.
While Roberts said there is still a chance of the Dodgers star competing against the Chicago Cubs on March 18, he sounded more pessimistic on Sunday.
Betts will go through a full workout Monday, and will have to meet certain requirements in order to make the Opening Day lineup.
“I think No. 1 … coming in that he doesn’t feel signs of being overly taxed today,” Roberts said. “Feeling strong tomorrow. And then tomorrow, to be able to go through an entire workout and not feel that same fatigue would give us a chance. But anything outside of that, I just don’t think the training staff would feel good about.”
While Roberts said there is still a chance of the Dodgers star competing against the Chicago Cubs on March 18, he sounded more pessimistic on Sunday.
Betts will go through a full workout Monday, and will have to meet certain requirements in order to make the Opening Day lineup.
“I think No. 1 … coming in that he doesn’t feel signs of being overly taxed today,” Roberts said. “Feeling strong tomorrow. And then tomorrow, to be able to go through an entire workout and not feel that same fatigue would give us a chance. But anything outside of that, I just don’t think the training staff would feel good about.”
The good news is that the Dodgers weren’t no-hit in their 3-0 loss to the Hanshin Tigers at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on Saturday.
The bad news is they went 3-for-28 (.107) at the plate – all singles. They also went 7-for-32 (.219) in their 5-1 win over the Yomiuri Giants on Saturday, during which they did manage to hit a double and three home runs, so there’s that.
But the worst news is that the Dodgers open their 2025 regular season with two games against the Chicago Cubs at that seemingly ill-fated Tokyo Dome on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 18 and 19.
Over their 18 innings played in the Land of the Rising Sun on Saturday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts‘ team went a combined 10-for-60 (.167), with one double and those three home runs for those five runs scored.
“I thought we saw some good arms from the Giants yesterday, certainly out of the bullpen,” Roberts said following Saturday’s two-day twin-bill (due to the time difference). “I thought this team (the Yomiuri Giants), they had some players that were… I think both teams were physical. It’s still baseball and, umm, you know, Blake (Snell) was very good for three innings, and he walked the leadoff guy, gave up a hit, and left a fastball up in the strike zone.”
