Dodgers' Costly Injuries Raise Concerns Ahead of Stretch Run

The Dodgers have suffered two significant injuries to key players in consecutive days, casting doubt on their ability to compete for the World Series.

The Dodgers' two gut-wrenching losses to the roster this weekend overshadowed their two wins on the field, as the most expensive pitcher in baseball and the leading National League MVP candidate suffered significant injuries on consecutive days.

On Saturday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched two innings before departing with a strained rotator cuff. One day later, Mookie Betts fractured his left hand on a 98 mph fastball that ran too far inside and left him writhing on the ground in agony.

Dodgers' Costly Injuries Raise Concerns Ahead of Stretch Run

The injuries will put $690 million worth of commitments on the shelf for an extended period, a perilous reality made more challenging by the fact that both players were in the midst of trying something new. Yamamoto, 25, was learning how to pitch stateside. Betts, 31, was learning how to play shortstop for the first time in his decorated big-league career.

The Dodgers were learning, too, with every inning logged. Everything they do now is with October in mind.

On the bright side, the timing eases some of the sting. Neither injury is expected to require surgery or be season-ending, according to manager Dave Roberts, who tried to strike an optimistic tone regarding the future of his first-place club.

"We're going to be fine," Roberts said. "We have really good players, and we have to move on."

Still, the injuries necessitate questions for a Dodgers team that just spent more than $1 billion this offseason to revamp the roster coming off back-to-back stunning first-round exits in an effort to win their first World Series title since the shortened 2020 season:

- Can Yamamoto overcome his shoulder issue in time for the Dodgers to trust him as a playoff starter?

- Can Betts, who was working tirelessly pregame every night to handle the rigors of shortstop, still get enough reps at the spot for the Dodgers to feel comfortable handing him the reins at the position for an entire postseason?

It's unlikely they'll have the answers before the trade deadline, though they have more options on the mound. Pitching reinforcements are expected to arrive soon with Bobby Miller slated to return to action and Clayton Kershaw set to embark on a rehab assignment this week. The Dodgers might want to wait to see what their returning pitchers have in the tank before striking a deal.

At shortstop, the long-term answers aren't quite so clear.

Betts is expected to visit a hand specialist Monday to plot the next course of action. The question is not only when he will return — it seems more likely a matter of months than weeks — but also what the Dodgers can expect both at the plate and in the field from the NL leader in wins above replacement when he does.

Even with Betts healthy, the Dodgers had serious questions about their offensive depth. His absence atop the lineup is exacerbated further by the oblique injury to Max Muncy, who doesn't appear close to a return.

Still, with Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and Teoscar Hernández leading the group, the Dodgers should feel relatively comfortable about their eight-game lead in the NL West. But this year isn't about winning the division, as they've done 11 times in the past 12 seasons.

After signing Ohtani this winter, anything less than a championship would be viewed as a failure. That should necessitate action ahead of the deadline.

The current options, however, are limited — both in-house and on the trade front.

Miguel Rojas is expected to get the majority of time at shortstop with Kiké Hernández also working in. Rojas is a plus defender and sports a 119 OPS+ in limited action this season, his best mark since the shortened 2020 season, but has hit below league average over his 11-year career.

The Dodgers envisioned him as a backup and utility option when they signed him last year, but there are few other options at their disposal. Gavin Lux was supposed to occupy the position at the start of the year, but he was bumped to second base after dealing with defensive issues this spring and has a dismal .542 OPS in his first season back from a torn ACL.

In addition, the Dodgers don't have any top prospects at the position waiting in the wings. The primary option at Triple-A is Trey Sweeney, who was acquired this offseason from the Yankees, but he has a modest .746 OPS at Oklahoma City. Another potential option is Austin Gauthier, a 25-year-old who has logged time across the diamond (including shortstop) while hitting .278/.421/.424 between Double-A and Triple-A.

For now, the Dodgers will adjust by calling Miguel Vargas back up to play left field against left-handed pitching. Roberts said his initial thought is that Ohtani will move from the No. 2 spot in the lineup to leadoff.

Bleak.

Willy Adames was the name to watch as the premier shortstop in a walk year, but Milwaukee is in first place and Adames' success in a bounce-back year makes a trade with the Brewers highly unlikely.

The Blue Jays' Bo Bichette (1) and the White Sox's Paul DeJong (2) are among the most intriguing potential options for a willing buyer, though neither is a slam-dunk match.

Bichette, a 26-year-old two-time All-Star who led the league in hits in 2021 and 2022, offers the most upside and star power. Prior to this year, he hit .290 or better with an OPS+ of 121 or better in each of his first five big-league seasons. But this season has been a disaster at the plate. Among shortstops with at least 200 plate appearances this season, only Orlando Arcia has a lower wRC+.