Mookie Betts returns to the Dodgers' lineup after an oblique injury

TL;DR

Mookie Betts returned to the Dodgers' lineup after a five-week absence due to an oblique injury. He aims to help revitalize a struggling offense as the team faces the San Francisco Giants.

Key points

Mookie Betts returned to the Dodgers after five weeks off
He was sidelined due to a right oblique strain
Betts aims to boost a struggling Dodgers offense
Alex Freeland was sent down to Triple-A after Betts' return
Betts was batting .179 before his injury

Mookie BettsLos Angeles DodgersSan Francisco GiantsShohei Ohtani

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mookie Betts returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup Monday night, five weeks after being sidelined with an oblique injury. The eight-time All-Star was set to hit second behind Shohei Ohtani and ahead of Freddie Freeman in the series opener against the San Francisco Giants. “We just have to make sure we swing at good pitches,” Betts said before the game. “Those guys are good, too. They drive nice cars, too. We just have to control the zone, swing at good pitches.” The Dodgers had dropped seven of their last 11 games and were looking for Betts to help jumpstart a stagnant offense. They scored three runs or fewer in eight of those 11 games. "I know I’m not the hero,” said Betts, the 2018 AL MVP. “It’s important for everyone to know it’s going to take all of us and not just one guy getting through their struggles or whatever it is.” Betts was batting .179 (5 for 28) with two home runs in eight games before he went on the injured list April 5 with a right oblique strain. "I just didn’t really realize how long it takes for it to really heal,” he said. “I felt pretty good pretty fast actually. But just some of the movements I couldn’t do kind of lingered for a long time. I was trying to hurry but obviously the doctors were saying it just takes a month for it to heal.” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Betts would start at shortstop Monday and Tuesday before taking Wednesday off. “After seven days, six days, I think he’s going to want to be in there regularly, but we’ll kind of see,” Roberts said. Betts was on a tear in spring training, hitting .357 with a .786 OPS in five games before briefly leaving the team for the birth of his third child. He cooled off the first two weeks of the regular season before getting hurt. Roberts is taking a wait-and-see approach toward Betts' offense. The 33-year-old shortstop was 2 for 5 in two minor league rehab games. “Certainly two games of rehab, taking batting practice, a day of live at-bats, is not ideal,” the manager said, “but I think with Mookie you just don’t know. The hope is that he can kind of hit the ground running.” With Betts' return, infielder was sent down to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He was hitting .235 with two homers and eight RBIs in 33 games. The front office chose to keep second baseman over Freeland. “What it came down to is Hyeseong has performed better,” Roberts said. \\_ AP MLB:

Q&A

How long was Mookie Betts sidelined with his injury?

Mookie Betts was sidelined for five weeks due to a right oblique strain.

What impact is Mookie Betts expected to have on the Dodgers' offense?

Betts is expected to help jumpstart a stagnant Dodgers offense that scored three runs or fewer in eight of their last 11 games.

Who was sent down to Triple-A after Mookie Betts' return?

Infielder Alex Freeland was sent down to Triple-A Oklahoma City following Betts' return to the lineup.