Shohei Ohtani is officially back from the 15-day IL on Wednesday, and the Dodgers’ lineup just got a whole lot more complicated for manager Dave Roberts. Ohtani missed a little over a week with a biceps issue, but Roberts announced his superstar is activated, meaning a tough call is coming at the top of the order. Ohtani has been their regular leadoff hitter all season, but his absence gave Mookie Betts a shot at the spot, and Betts absolutely exploded.
Mookie Betts: An Absolute September Monster
While Ohtani was sidelined, Mookie Betts stepped up huge, batting leadoff and absolutely crushing it. We’re talking 9-for-16 with four doubles, two home runs, and six RBIs across just four games. That’s not just “good,” that’s “red hot and impossible to ignore.” But think that’s impressive? His September has been on another level entirely, with Betts hitting an unbelievable .373/.468/.746. He’s racked up 13 extra-base hits and 20 RBIs over 17 games this month, showing the kind of production the Dodgers were hoping for all season. He’s only batted leadoff in six games all year, but man, he’s made them count.
The Ohtani Dilemma Just Got Real
But here’s the kicker: Roberts says Ohtani’s returning to the leadoff spot “as of now.” Seriously? Ohtani has been struggling recently, batting a measly .139/.262/.222 with only two extra-base hits and zero RBIs over his last nine games. The Dodgers are apparently thinking about a platoon scenario. That would mean Ohtani leads off against right-handed pitchers, while Betts takes the top spot against left-handers. After Betts’ tear in September, is that really enough to justify pulling him from the spot he’s dominating?
The Dodgers are sitting pretty at 97-60, comfortably leading the National League West and just one game back from the Brewers for the best record in the National League. They’ve got five games left in the regular season, starting with the Padres on Wednesday in the second game of their three-game series. This team has depth, for sure, but Roberts has a huge decision to make here. You gotta wonder if sacrificing a red-hot Mookie Betts at leadoff for an Ohtani who’s been struggling is the right move for the final stretch. It’s a tough call, but one that could impact their momentum big time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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