On the same day that storm clouds delayed theLos Angeles Dodgers' series finale against the Nationalsin Washington, D.C Sunday, April 5, the team has also gotten some clarity on the injury to star shortstopMookie Betts.
The Dodgers are placing Betts on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain, manager Dave Roberts announced pregame. In the corresponding roster move, the team has recalled infielder Hyeseong Kim from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Betts drew a walk in his lone plate appearance in the top of the first inning of Saturday's 10-5 win over the Washington Nationals and scored from first on a two-run double from Freddie Freeman, but he exited the game with what was initially described as lower back tightness. Miguel Rojas replaced him at shortstop for the bottom of the first.
Betts underwent an MRI Saturday night, which revealed an oblique strain that the Dodgers believe likely happened on a check swing during his at-bat but that he didn't feel until he started running the bases.
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Roberts told reporters that he felt "a little something in (his) stomach" when he learned of the MRI results but felt reassured once he spoke with Betts.
"He's actually in better spirits," Roberts told reporters. "Obviously disappointed, but just the way he feels today, and I think he's had some dealings with that before and said it's better than he recalls past experience. So that was encouraging."
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TheDodgers injury reporton MLB.com lists Betts' expected return for May. And while Roberts said he "would take the under" on the standard 4–6-week recovery period, he hesitated to put a definitive timeline due to the tricky nature of oblique injuries.
The Dodgers have three main options to turn to in Betts' absence between Rojas, Kim and rookie Alex Freeland. Roberts said he sees Rojas and Kim taking on the bulk of the reps at short and keeping Freeland in an everyday role at second base.
"That's how I'm gonna divvy it up and then we'll see," Roberts said. "We got three starters in Toronto, so Hyeseong will play short against Scherzer, and then we'll probably start two of the three."
As for the lineup, Roberts mused about the possibility of moving center fielder Andy Pages up in the order after starting off the season on tear, going 15-for-30 at the plate with three home runs and 10 RBI through eight games, though Roberts also said he likes the dynamic of the lineup as-is.
But regardless, losing Betts for a stretch of time is a blow for the Dodgers. He had gotten off to a slow start at the dish – as has most of the top of the order – but went 2-for-6 with a two-run go-ahead homer in the third inning of Friday's 13-6 win in DC.
"We were starting to get going a bit," Roberts said. "And he way he's playing defense, he's a big part of what we do. Any time you miss it's going to take some time to get your footing, so disappointed for him. But hopeful that it's not long term."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Dodgers' Mookie Betts placed on injury list with oblique strain