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Reporters are reflected in the eyes of Mookie Belts of the Los Angeles Dodgers as he talks to the media prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Mookie Belts of the Los Angeles Dodgers talks to the media prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Mookie Belts of the Los Angeles Dodgers works out in the infield prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Mookie Belts of the Los Angeles Dodgers works out in the infield prior to a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Third baseman Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers fields a baseball and throws out Manny Machado (not pictured) of the San Diego Padres in the second inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run offer starting pitcher Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres blows a bubble against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Starting pitcher Tyler Anderson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the pate against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Starting pitcher Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting solo home run against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Right fielder Jose Azocar #28 of the San Diego Padres can’t react a solo home run by Will Smith (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting solo home run off starting pitcher Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives third base coach Dino Ebel after hitting a solo home run against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting a solo home run against the p in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Starting pitcher Tyler Anderson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the pate against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run offer starting pitcher Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting solo home run against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting solo home run off starting pitcher Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a solo home run offer starting pitcher Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers forces out Jose Azocar #28 of the San Diego Padres at second base in the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Starting pitcher Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres throws the plate against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers doubles against the San Diego Padres in the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Baseball fans look on from the reserve level MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on against the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Starting pitcher Yu Darvish #11 of the San Diego Padres throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers waits for a reliever after pulling starting pitcher Tyler Anderson (not pictured) out of the game against the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Trea Turner #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is out art first base as First baseman Francisco Cervelli #45 of the San Diego Padres catches the ball in the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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right fielder Jose Azocar #28 of the San Diego Padres drops a ball by Freddie Freeman (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Centerfielder Trent Grisham #2 of the San Diego Padres catches a fly ball by Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in front of rightfielder Jose Azocar #28 of the San Diego Padres in the fourth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers on deck against the San Diego Padres in the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Jake Lamb #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches his RBI double against the San Diego Padres in the third inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Right fielder Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers fields a double by Jurickson Profar (not pictured) of the San Diego Padres in the fifth inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Starting pitcher Tyler Anderson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Relief pitcher Brusdar Graterol #48 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to the plate against the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Baseball fans look on from the reserve level MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Starting pitcher Tyler Anderson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives teammates in the dugout after being pulled from the game against the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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in the xxx inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Baseball fans look on in the seventh inning during a MLB baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives teammates after a RBI sac fly against the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
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Relief pitcher Ray Kerr #56 of the San Diego Padres throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning of a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 2, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
LOS ANGELES ― Mookie Betts has spent the last few days taking ground balls on the infield, preparing to return from the injured list as a second baseman.
A foul ball Saturday had other plans.
Chris Taylor hit a baseball off his right foot in the third inning of the Dodgers’ 7-2 win over the San Diego Padres. He played two innings in right field before he was removed from the game. X-rays were negative, and Taylor was diagnosed with a contusion, but Manager Dave Roberts said Taylor will not play in the series finale.
“It just makes sense to give him a day,” Roberts said. “I saw (Taylor) laboring going after that one flare to right.”
That means Betts will be the Dodgers’ right fielder when he is activated from the 15-day IL prior to Sunday’s game against the Padres.
Betts has won four Gold Glove awards in right field in his career, but he reported some pain around his fractured right rib after playing long toss Thursday. Perhaps no position demands more long throws than right field.
Betts is familiar with second base; the outfield only became his primary domain when he reached Triple-A as a Boston Red Sox minor leaguer. He has started 20 games at second base in the majors, including six with the Dodgers.
Betts believes he would benefit from having to cover less ground at second base, too.
“It’s just less running overall,” he said. “People take for granted simply going from the dugout to right field ― you’re running out there, balls in the gap ― it’s a lot less steps. That’s really all it is. Kind of like load management.”
On June 15, Betts collided with Cody Bellinger in the outfield in pursuit of a fly ball in the first inning of a game against the Angels. Betts remarkably finished out the game and did not go on the injured list until days later, when a follow-up scan revealed a cracked rib behind his right pectoral muscle.
Betts said he hasn’t gotten a follow-up scan recently, but it’s clear the last two weeks have been a time of rapid healing.
“It’s night and day different,” he said. “At that point I couldn’t swing. It was hurting to breathe. It was hurting to do everyday activity. Now, I’m moving around, it’s pretty normal.”
Roberts said he plans to use Betts at or near the top of the lineup in every game between now and the Dodgers’ next off-day, July 11.
In 17 games as a leadoff hitter through Friday, Trea Turner had a .355 batting average, .383 on-base percentage, and .579 slugging percentage. Roberts acknowledged for the first time Saturday that displacing Turner might not be worth the benefit of using Betts at the lineup position he’s most familiar with. The manager planned to meet with the two players before Betts returns.
INJURY UPDATES
Caleb Ferguson (elbow) threw a simulated inning against Betts and Zach McKinstry and reported no issues afterward, Roberts said. The left-hander is expected to return to the Dodgers early next week, and will not need a minor league rehabilitation assignment in the meantime.
Ferguson, who turned 26 Saturday, has appeared in six games out of the Dodgers’ bullpen this season without allowing a run.
McKinstry (neck) will go out on a rehab assignment before he returns. Nine days after his last at-bat, the utility player said he will need “maybe two or three” games of rehab before he returns.
McKinstry, 27, has seen time at four positions plus DH this season, going 1 for 7 with a home run. He’s hit .215 with eight home runs and 31 RBIs in 70 games since his 2020 debut.
Minor league pitcher Jhan Zambrano also threw to Betts and McKinstry during the simulated game.
Dustin May is “really close” to beginning a minor league rehabilitation assignment too, Roberts said. The right-hander has thrown several live batting practice sessions at the Dodgers’ Camelback Ranch facility in Arizona.
May’s next competitive game will be his first since he underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2021.
UP NEXT
San Diego (LHP MacKenzie Gore, 4-3, 3.34 ERA) at Dodgers (LHP Clayton Kershaw, 5-2, 2.94 ERA), Sunday, 1:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570-AM
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