Betts to Miss 6-8 Weeks with Fractured Hand

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is expected to be sidelined for approximately six to eight weeks due to a fractured left hand, as announced by manager Dave Roberts on Monday, according to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

Betts incurred the injury after being struck by a 98-mph fastball from Kansas City Royals pitcher Dan Altavilla during Sunday’s game.

“There’s going to be a couple weeks of inactivity with that hand is my assumption,” Roberts stated, per Patrick Lyons of Just Baseball Media.

In Betts’ absence, Shohei Ohtani is set to lead off against right-handed pitching. However, Roberts has yet to determine who will take the leadoff spot against left-handers, as reported by MLB.com’s Juan Toribio.

Ohtani, who has made 64 leadoff appearances in his career, boasts an .882 OPS with 14 home runs in 234 at-bats in that position.

Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas is expected to assume the role of the Dodgers’ primary shortstop during Betts’ recovery.