Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts has been ruled out of the two-game Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs because of an illness, manager Dave Roberts said Monday.
Per Roberts, Betts has lost “close to 15 pounds” due to the illness. The manager added that Betts could fly back to the United States before the team does in an effort to be ready for the domestic opener against the Detroit Tigers on March 27.
“He’s not going to play in these two games,” Roberts said. “”The thing is when you lose a lot of weight, when you’re dehydrated, that’s what opens a person up to soft-tissue injuries. We’re very mindful of that. So to take the next week, call it, to build him back up, his strength, do some baseball activities to get ready for the home opener.”
Miguel Rojas likely will start at shortstop in place of Betts for the Dodgers, who face the Cubs on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
Betts, an eight-time All-Star, missed exhibition games on Saturday against the Yomiuri Giants and Sunday against the Hanshin Tigers.
Betts, 32, is entering his sixth season with the Dodgers. He batted .289 with 19 homers and 75 RBIs in 116 games last season when the Dodgers won the World Series.
