Dodgers' Betts headed to IL with strained oblique

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is being placed on the injured list because of a strained right oblique, manager Dave Roberts said Sunday.

The injury is expected to sideline Betts for four to six weeks, although Roberts said he would "take the under" when asked how soon Betts might return, according to the Orange County Register.

Betts left the Dodgers' 10-5 win over the Washington Nationals on Saturday after the top of the first inning with what the team called lower back pain. An MRI confirmed that the injury was actually to Betts' oblique.

Roberts told reporters that he believes Betts suffered the injury on a checked swing in his at-bat in the first inning Saturday.

Betts was starting at shortstop and batting third when he drew a walk in the first and eventually scored on Freddie Freeman's two-run double. He was replaced in the field by Miguel Rojas before the bottom of the inning.

Rojas also was starting at shortstop on Sunday.

The 33-year-old Betts is coming off a 2025 season in which he played 150 games. He scuffled through the postseason but began the 6-6-3 double play that won Game 7 of the World Series for Los Angeles.

Betts is batting .179 with two home runs and seven RBIs this season.

The Dodgers recalled infielder Hyeseong Kim from the minors to replace Betts on the major league roster.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.