Dodgers: Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger Out of the Lineup at the Home Opener

The Dodgers return home to play in front of fans for the first time since 2019. It is also the first time that fans in Los Angeles will get to see Mookie Betts live at Chavez Ravine in a Dodger uniform. Unfortunately, he will not be in the starting lineup. 

Mookie tweaked his back in a game against Oakland earlier this week. That led to him sitting out on Wednesday in preparation for the Dodgers return home this weekend. When the lineup was released this morning, Betts’ name was left off. 

Dave Roberts later said that Mookie is still considered day-to-day with back stiffness. The Dodgers outfielder will miss the home opener as a result, though Doc did not say if he could be available late in the game. 

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Cody Bellinger is the other big name missing from the Dodgers lineup on Friday. Bellinger was stepped on at first base on Monday and has sat out since then. The outfielder is dealing with some calf soreness and an injured list designation is still possible for him.

Bellinger received more tests on his injured leg on Thursday and has made steady progress, according to Doc. But his progress was not significant enough To justify slotting him into the Dodgers lineup on Friday. 

The Dodgers will probably put him on the 10-day IL and backdate it to Monday in order to get another bat in this weekend. 

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