"Dave Roberts said it's intentional not to have Mookie Betts in a game until next week. Possibly, Sunday. Betts is one of the last Dodgers superstars yet to make their Cactus League debut this season, with just about everyone else getting in on the action already. Betts hasn't suffered injury, nor is any other ailment keeping him away from the team, rather he is undergoing a slower build up after his difficulties to start the season last year."
"In 2025, Betts went down with an illness which caused him to lose a significant amount of weight and severely impacted his ability to hit the ground running in the regular season. Betts' entire season struggled after his slow start last year, as he had the worst campaign of his MLB career in 2025. He had a .732 OPS through 150 games, just barely pulling his OPS+ above league average at the end of the season after two solid months."
"While Betts managed respectable numbers, there's no doubt he wants to improve upon a disappointing personal campaign such as last year's in the coming season. The Dodgers will count on Betts to bat third for them in 2026, following Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Tucker in the lineup. Improving shouldn't be much of an issue for Betts either, as he has shown he is more than capable of performing with the Dodgers."
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that shortstop Mookie Betts will not make his Cactus League debut until at least Sunday when Los Angeles faces the Angels. This delayed start is intentional, designed to allow Betts a gradual buildup after struggling in 2025. Last year, Betts contracted an illness that caused significant weight loss and hampered his early-season performance, ultimately resulting in his worst MLB campaign with a .732 OPS across 150 games. Despite the disappointing year, Betts still recorded 20 home runs, 82 RBIs, and earned Gold Glove finalist honors at shortstop. The Dodgers expect Betts to bat third in 2026 and improve upon last season's performance.
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