After months of anticipation, we are finally here at the juncture of one of baseball’s most electrifying series. Second only to the storied Subway Series in terms of hype and fanfare, the Dodgers are set to host the Yankees in a clash that feels far more than just another regular-season showdown. If you remember the memory of last year’s World Series, the Dodgers dismantled the Yankees in just five games.

It was a humbling defeat, one that lingered in the Yankees clubhouse and fueled a quiet fire throughout the offseason. So, it’s a chance for redemption now. But as players and fans zero in on this highly sentimental showdown, a bold move by the Dodgers has suddenly caught all the attention.

Mookie Betts, the prized shortstop of the Dodgers, is missing from their lineup! Injury? No. Suspension? No. Strategic gameplay? Yes!

Well, the reason for Betts’ absence from the lineup remains unclear. But speculations are rife that it could be a calculated move by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. If you remember, Betts has struggled against left-handed pitching this season, posting a modest .204 BA and a .641 OPS. On the other hand, the Yankees are reportedly bringing the Cy Young contender Max Fried to the scene! So yes, the move, sort of, looks like a strategic one by Roberts.

But hey, it is not obvious that strategic gameplay will always sit well with the fans. Moreover, when your omission is an MVP, it surely makes the fans unsettled. Guess what, the same happened here, and fans are flooding the X, asking about Betts.

But there might be more to Betts’ absence than just a strategic reason. Let’s take a deeper dive.

So, who’s coming in place of Mookie Betts? Miguel Rojas. However, will he be effective enough in such a high-profile spot? For starters, Rojas has managed just one home run and two RBIs in 40 plate appearances against left-handed pitching this season. These figures are not game-changing and it’s only adding frustration among fans, many of whom are left wondering why one of the game’s most dynamic players will be watching from the dugout on a night like this.

Fans are asking for the Dodgers’ prized shortstop

While this game against the Yankees will be the second for Betts to miss out of 55  games he has played this season, it has frustrated the fans beyond limits! “Rojas and Conforto but no Mookie or Kim???????? Let me speak to Roberts,” wrote a fan. It’s not only Mookie Betts; the Dodgers have also omitted their 2B, Kim Hye-seong, from today’s game. Enough for this fan to ask for Roberts’ contact details to have a discussion.

Betts has got a career BA of .281 against the Yankees, with 16 HRs and 68 runs scored from 102 games. And he got replaced by whom? A guy with a .273 BA and only 5 runs against the Yankees until now! Disparity or what? Anyway it goes, the fans are left scratching their head.

“Another weird lineup again. Is this spring training?” wrote another fan. Yes, this is no spring training, but what if the first choice is injured? As per the MLB insider, Jon Heyman, Betts is dealing with a toe/foot issue and may get X-rays. In that case, you ought to proceed with your second choice, be it a league game or spring training. Hopefully, the Dodgers will get Betts back by the second game of the series.

“Where are Betts and Kim? Seriously, Conforto again? What have I done to deserve playing every day?” Now that is again a question. While Kim and Betts are not playing for their own reasons, what made the Dodgers continue with Michael Conforto?

With a BA of just .172, along with only three HRs and seven RBIs, the numbers paint a troubling picture for Conforto. However, a recent outing against the Guardians provided a much-needed glimmer of hope. The 32-year-old went 2-for-3, including a long-overdue home run. Hence, for the Dodgers, patience remains rooted in the belief that the vintage Conforto can still resurface.

“LOL Mookie went into hiding from Fried,” a netizen wrote. While that might not be entirely true, Betts’ figures against Fried are concerning enough. It’s also worth noting that he has struggled mightily against Fried throughout his career, going just 1-for-18 in 19 plate appearances. That’s hardly an inspiring track record, and it may offer further insight into Roberts’ decision to keep Betts out of the lineup.

Although the reports of Betts’ injury are going around, we don’t have an official word yet. If it’s not for the injury, benching a superstar in a marquee series would naturally raise eyebrows.

“Roberts surrendered. We might get smoked unless some superhuman performances. Might have to turn this game off after 3 innings,” wrote another fan. Isn’t it brutal to conclude this early? We know how baseball loves to surprise, and nothing is surprising for this lineup. Moreover, the Dodgers are not dependent on one player or position; when they’ve got a bunch of big names.

Remember the May 14 game against the Athletics? Rojas came off the bench to deliver an RBI double in the sixth inning, breaking a 3-3 tie and giving the Dodgers a 4-3 lead. So, it’s too early to conclude; rather, it’s an opportunity for the Dodgers to check their bench strength.

Keeping this lineup issue aside, we are on the verge of getting another evenly competitive series this year. It would be interesting to see how the Yankees go in the rematch of last year’s debacle.