The Los Angeles Dodgers effectively waited one week before placing Mookie Betts on the 10-day injured list with right hip inflammation, and now he could be back in the lineup after another seven days.
Betts participated in a workout prior to the series opener at Oracle Park, and responded well. “Mookie took grounders, ran around, played catch,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Betts’ stint on the IL was backdated three days, which made Sunday, Aug. 1, the earliest he could be reinstated. “I think the Sunday activation, we’re still on line with that,” Roberts said.
That Betts got through a workout without issue is a positive development considering his inability to do so last Sunday is what prompted the Dodgers to make a roster move. “He started trying to crank it up a little bit today and wasn’t sure if by Tuesday he would be ready to go,” Roberts explained at the time.
“So I think at that point it just made our decision that much easier. We tried to kick it down the road and wait as long as we could, but at some point we had to make a decision. That point was [Sunday] at about noon.”
Betts played through the hip trouble during the first half, which wasn’t publicly disclosed until aggravating it coming out of the All-Star break. From the time he was forced to an early exit on July 17 to when the Dodgers put him on the IL, Betts was limited to just one pinch-hit appearance.
Kershaw to face Angels
After refraining from throwing through the All-Star break, Clayton Kershaw began playing catch last week when the Dodgers opened a homestand. He continued to increase the distance each day and built up to throwing a bullpen session on Tuesday and next is facing batters.
“With Clayton, him pitching on Sunday somewhere is the plan,” Roberts said. “I don’t see it being with us, so if it’s a simulated situation at CBR or something like that, is probably most likely.
“To then get him ready for that start on Saturday, the 7th, in Anaheim.”
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