Dodgers Trying To Buy Time With Not Putting Mookie Betts On Injured List

The Los Angeles Dodgers played the second of at least three games in a row without Mookie Betts in their lineup as he recovers from a fractured fourth toe in his left foot.

Betts sustained the injury at his home on Wednesday night and has dealt with discomfort and swelling since. He walked with a limp while leaving Dodger Stadium on Friday, but was not in a protective boot or using crutches.

“It is a fracture at the tip of his toe. It’s basically kind of what he can tolerate,” manager Dave Roberts said. “The last couple days it was hard for him to even put on a shoe, so that’s obviously why he’s not even in the lineup. But I still don’t believe it’s going to be an IL stint. I think day-to-day is fair right now.”

While the Dodgers are planning on Betts not being in the lineup for the finale of their World Series rematch with the New York Yankees, there might soon be an inflection point with respect to a decision for the injured list.

“Probably,” answered Roberts when asked if the Dodgers would need to consider a change in their approach early next week if Betts’ condition doesn’t improve and in order to take advantage of backdating an IL stint.

“But once we get this swelling out, get the pain to subside a little bit, it is what it is for quite some time. So probably don’t think four days versus 14 days, 15 days, is going to make much of a difference.”

How fractured toe affects Mookie Betts

Beyond having trouble putting pressure on his left foot, the Dodgers are mindful of the likelihood that Betts’ defense at shortstop would be impacted by playing through the injury in the near term. There is also the factor of it presenting another hurdle for Betts in what’s already been an inconsistent season at the plate.

“He does use a lot of ground force, so I don’t know if he’s swung a bat yet today, but there is some pause a little bit,” Roberts said.