Mookie Betts suffers bizarre toe injury, sidelined for Dodgers' high-stakes Yankees series opener
Mookie Betts ruled out of Dodgers vs. Yankees opener after freak toe injury (AP Photos)
The Los Angeles Dodgers are off to another dominant season, but the team's luck with injuries continues to test their depth. The latest setback? Star shortstop Mookie Betts is sidelined with a toe injury that, while not major, adds to the Dodgers' increasingly bizarre list of player mishaps.
Dodgers hit with sudden blow as Mookie Betts ruled out vs. Yankees due to stubbed toe
Mookie Betts is currently listed as day-to-day after injuring his left toe at home earlier this week. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Friday that Betts was undergoing X-rays and added, 'I feel confident saying it's day-to-day, but putting on a shoe today was difficult for him.' The injury is believed to have happened when Betts stubbed his toe, though the details remain unclear. Roberts simply called it 'just kind of an accident.
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While Betts was not in the starting lineup for the much-anticipated series opener against the New York Yankees — a rematch of last year's World Series — Roberts noted that the 32-year-old was still available off the bench if needed.
This incident is another strange twist in what has become a peculiar season of injuries for the Dodgers. Earlier this year, Freddie Freeman missed nine games after slipping in the shower and aggravating a previously repaired ankle.
These freak accidents have kept Roberts on edge, as he joked, 'It just keeps coming... It's Murphy's law, but yeah, this is a weird one.'
Despite the injuries, the Dodgers continue to shine. With Betts posting a .254 batting average, eight home runs, and 31 RBIs, he's remained a key contributor for a team leading the National League West by two games over the San Diego Padres.
Betts' absence — even for a short time — is sure to be felt. Known for his versatility and leadership, he anchors both the lineup and infield. With a high-profile matchup against Aaron Judge and the Yankees underway, the Dodgers are hoping their MVP-caliber shortstop won't be sidelined for long.
In a season that's already seen its fair share of oddities, the Dodgers are banking on resilience and roster depth as they aim for another championship run — hopefully with fewer shower slips and stubbed toes.
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