WASHINGTON –– The Dodgers have their first new injury concern to worry about since the start of the regular season .
On Saturday afternoon, star shortstop Mookie Betts left their game against the Washington Nationals early with right lower back pain, according to the team.
The injury happened in the top of the first inning, after Betts drew a walk and scored from first base on a two-run double from Freddie Freeman .
Manager Dave Roberts said Betts felt pain in his back as he was running on the play, and was scheduled to get an MRI later Saturday night.
Roberts expected Betts to miss at least "the next couple days," and said a decision on whether he needs to go on the injured list would depend on the results of his imaging.
"We'll know more later," Roberts added. "It's certainly more moderate than significant."
On Saturday afternoon, star shortstop Mookie Betts left a game against the Washington Nationals early with right lower back pain, according to the team. JIM LO SCALZO/EPA/Shutterstock
In the moment, there was no outward indication that Betts was ailing. But in the bottom of the first inning, Miguel Rojas took the field in his place at shortstop.
Betts, 33, had gotten off to a slow opening week, entering Saturday with just a .179 batting average and .687 OPS.
However, he also had two home runs and seven RBIs, including a go-ahead two-run blast in the Dodgers' offensive outburst on Friday.
And this spring, Dodgers personnel raved over the physical improvements he made following a career-worst performance at the plate last season, hopeful he'd rebound offensively in his second full season at short.
"Disappointed for him, because we're sort of starting to get going a little bit, and the way he's playing defense, he's a big part of what we do," Roberts said. "Any time you miss, it's gonna take some time to kind of get your footing. So disappointed for him, but hopeful that it's not long-term."
Roberts said the team was considering bringing a player up from the minor leagues Sunday just in case Betts requires the injured list.
Hyeseong Kim , the only available infielder on the 40-man roster, would be the likely candidate for that.
The Dodgers were already down two infielders to start this year, with Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández opening on the injured list while recovering from offseason ankle and elbow surgeries, respectively.
Now, they will have to wait and see how severe Betts' issue is, too.
