The Los Angeles Dodgers completed the sweep on Sunday against the Washington Nationals, yet one player was missing from the lineup for the first time in months.
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts did not play, missing his first game of the year. Betts suffered a right oblique strain on Saturday while running the bases and was removed in the first inning.
Although Betts is off to a slow start in 2026, he had shown signs of returning to form, smashing two home runs in his first eight games, including an opposite-field blast that suggested his power was coming back. The 33-year-old veteran also continued to play elite defense up the middle.
Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
Fortunately, everything that has followed since Betts went down has been positive. Although he was moved to the 10-day injured list and oblique injuries typically take longer than a month to heal, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team did not believe Betts would need that long and remained hopeful for a quicker return.
That optimism grew again on Monday when Betts spoke with reporters before the series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays. Betts said he already feels “light years ahead of where I thought I was going to be” compared to when he first got hurt a couple days ago (h/t Sonja Chen of MLB.com).
He also noted that compared to a similar injury he suffered in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox, this one feels less severe. That is especially encouraging because the 2018 injury only sidelined him for two weeks.
If Betts can return sooner rather than later, the Dodgers will welcome it. The team has the depth to hold things down while he recovers, so there is no need to rush him back, and he may even head out on a rehab assignment once he is healthy enough.
When Betts returns, he will look to get back to his usual dominant self. Over 13 seasons, Betts remains MLB’s active leader in World Series rings with four. He is also a former MVP, eight-time All-Star, seven-time Silver Slugger and six-time Gold Glove Award winner.
He is still searching for his first Gold Glove at shortstop after winning the other six in right field. With the Dodgers chasing a three-peat, Betts’ return will be a major boost.
