Dodgers star Mookie Betts headed to IL with cracked rib
The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without star right fielder Mookie Betts for a while after he suffered a cracked rib that will land him on the injured list, manager Dave Roberts announced Saturday night.
Betts, 29, reportedly suffered the injury in the first inning of a game on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Angels when he collided with teammate Cody Bellinger in the outfield. Betts finished the game, but sat out Friday and Saturday games against the Cleveland Guardians.
"You're taking one of the best players in baseball out of the lineup," Roberts said Saturday, via ESPN. "It's a big blow, but at least we know what we're dealing with and we're going to get him back sooner rather than later."
Betts was in the midst of a slump with only three hits in his last 39 at bats with eight strikeouts and zero walks. The dry spell dropped Betts' batting average from .311 to .273.
On Saturday, the Dodgers moved left fielder Chris Taylor to fill for Betts in right field. Gavin Lux took over for Betts in left field. The Dodgers say a recovery time for Betts hasn't yet been determined.
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