The Dodgers are set to play the Tokyo Series on the 18th, and their 31-man roster includes all the starters. Thanks to their deep rotation, the Dodgers are immune to injuries. Well, the Dodgers were projected to field their full-strength team for the two games, but that is unlikely now. Why? The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts is reportedly down with the flu and set to miss the two exhibition games – the first instance of the Dodgers missing their starting player. What is the current situation with Mookie Betts, and when is he expected to return?

Well, it’s a loss for the Dodgers, a fielding team with their $365 million superstar. How does it feel to lose the top players just before the season starts? Ask the Yankees! It was expected that Betts would shine in the Japan series, considering how he fared well in the Korea series last year. He made 1 homer and 2 RBIs there last year. For the Dodgers, Betts had an impressive last year, scoring 19 homers from 116 games in 2024. So yes, missing him in the Tokyo games is a big loss for the team. 

“Mookie seemed much better. The thought was that if he felt good today, he would take some swings in the cage. He put some weight back on. So that’s key,” the Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts, said. While Betts is likely to miss the Tokyo series, he will be back very soon and will be available for the opening day of the regular season. The Japanese audience, though, will miss Betts’s action on the field. Thanks to the deep rotation of the Dodgers, they will still go to the Tokyo Series as a favorite over the Cubs. 

The Dodgers are set for the Tokyo Series

Miguel Rojas, a seasoned infielder, is anticipated to start at shortstop if Betts is unable to play in the first game. On the other hand, the Dodgers have several choices because utility players Chris Taylor, Edman, and Kiké Hernández can all play shortstop. However, what will be the team lineup of the Dodgers in the Tokyo Series? Reportedly, the Dodgers will field Roki Sasaki in Game 2, while Yamamoto will start in Game 1. The biggest star of all of them, Shohei Ohtani, will be there as a designated hitter, and fans will witness his homers all around the Tokyo Dome. 

The presence of these Japanese superstars has made the Dodgers the most popular MLB team in Japan. Why? It’s still two nights left for the game, and the country is getting painted blue, with the fans donning the bright blue jerseys of the team. For the unversed, hundreds of fans wearing Dodgers jerseys gathered in the Tokyo Haneda Airport arrival hall on Thursday in the hopes of seeing the team as it disembarked from its trip from Phoenix. Moreover, more than 10000 fans crammed into the lower bowl of the ancient ballpark in a sea of blue and white to catch the team doing workouts. 

The countdown to the Tokyo Series has already started. The next 3 days will answer if the Dodgers performed as per the expectations or not. 

Do you consider the Dodgers as the favorite over the Cubs? Share your views with us below. 

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