Dodgers News: Mookie Betts’ Role to Change, According to Roberts

The Dodgers are 67-33 after Saturday night’s loss in Colorado. Even with the loss, they have the best record in all of baseball and are primed to get even better over the next few weeks with the return of several injured players. Oh, and that trade deadline is just days away.

Still, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room to tinker and try to maximize the roster as the calendar ticks closer to the postseason. Maximize both by addition and by keeping currently active players healthy. That’s what LA manager Dave Roberts has in mind with his pregame reveal from a day ago.

In an effort to keep star right fielder Mookie Betts on the field and playing well through October, the Dodgers are planning on… taking him out of right field.

Occasionally.

According to Dave, fans should expect to see Mookie at second base once every 7-10 days over the next couple of months. He shared more of the train of thought with the LA Times and other media outlets.

“It’s a way that we feel we can keep him in the lineup and not have an off day. I think keeping him at his best is the main thing, and how we get there is the question. Mookie has been very open to playing second base, to not have to make that run out to right field, and certainly four games here in Colorado. It’s something that, if he agrees with it and believes in it, then we do, it just makes too much sense.”

Betts is a 5-time Gold Glove award winner in right field but, importantly, is still nursing nagging injuries that can worsen with maximum effort in the outfield. He’s still only a month removed from a fractured rib.

Roberts has mentioned time and time again that the organization would like to have Mookie see more time at second base as a way to keep him fresh. And, spending time on the infield is apparently more refreshing than an occasional DH day.

Betts leads the team in home runs with 23 and is tops on the squad with 79 runs scored, despite missing a couple weeks on the injured list with that rib issue.

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