Mar 8, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) warms up before a game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

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MLB Tokyo Series: Illness Puts Mookie Betts’ Availability in Doubt

Will Mookie Betts be ready in time?

MLB Tokyo Series is now mere days away, and Los Angeles Dodgers are gearing up for their 2025 season opener against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, but they may have to do so without Mookie Betts. The star shortstop is still recovering from an illness that has sidelined him for several games.

Betts initially missed the Dodgers’ final two Cactus League games and has yet to return to the lineup in Japan. He was absent from both exhibition games, and his status for Opening Day remains uncertain. Manager Dave Roberts said that Betts is still feeling under the weather and has lost some weight, making his availability a game-time decision.

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Roberts confirmed that Betts has been working out and will be reassessed during the team’s off day on Monday. The Dodgers will wait to see if he is healthy enough to play against the Cubs when the series begins.

#Dodgers Dave Roberts said Mookie Betts will not be in either exhibition game as he still is recovering from being under the weather. He will go through a workout today, and they will reevaluate him on the off day to see if he will be available for Opening Day in Tokyo vs. Cubs
— Kirsten Watson (@kirsten_watson) March 15, 2025

If Betts is unable to take the field, the Dodgers have several contingency plans. Miguel Rojas is the primary backup at shortstop, but the team could also shift Tommy Edman to short and start Kiké Hernández at second base, particularly against Chicago’s left-handed starters.

Predicted Dodgers Tokyo Series Lineup

If Mookie Betts is fit to play, this is what the Dodgers lineup may look like against lefty Shota Imanaga:

Shohei Ohtani, DH
Mookie Betts, SS
Freddie Freeman, 1B
Teoscar Hernández, RF
Max Muncy, 3B
Will Smith, C
Michael Conforto, LF
Andy Pages, CF
Tommy Edman, 2B

Roberts has already confirmed the top four spots in the order, and the rest of the lineup is expected to alternate left and right-handed bats for balance. A key decision could be whether Andy Pages makes the Opening Day lineup, especially with the Cubs starting left-hander Shota Imanaga in Game 1.

Dodgers

Mookie Betts

Tokyo Series 2025

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.