Betts nearing return as Dodgers' shortstop, but won't hit leadoff

LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts took ground balls at shortstop for over an hour before Tuesday’s game against the Phillies, another sign that the 2018 American League Most Valuable Player is on the doorstep of a return.

In fact, if all goes as planned with a series of live batting practices and sim games this week, the Dodgers are expecting Betts, who has been sidelined with a fractured left hand since June 16, to be back in their lineup as early as Monday against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

When Betts makes his return, some things will look the same. Despite some outside chatter of the Dodgers moving Betts back to second base or right field, manager Dave Roberts announced Tuesday that Betts will serve as the team’s starting shortstop once again. Betts was given the shortstop job five days before Opening Day in Seoul, South Korea, and played the position almost exclusively until his injury.

“I see Mookie at shortstop,” Roberts said. “I think having [Miguel Rojas], we know he can play shortstop. But for him to be able to take down third, play second at times for Gavin [Lux], I think, from the outset, we’re going to have Mookie play short.”

As Roberts alluded to, keeping Betts at short allows Lux to stay as the team’s regular at second base. Over the last three weeks, Lux has been one of the Dodgers’ best hitters and entered Tuesday riding a season-high 10-game hitting streak. It also keeps Rojas, who doesn’t provide the same offensive value as Betts, on the bench as a late-inning defensive replacement while also earning starts against southpaws.

In right field, the Dodgers have some options. Jason Heyward and Andy Pages could platoon at the position. Amed Rosario also has some experience in right.

One thing is clear: Over the next couple of weeks, as the Dodgers get healthier, they’ll have to make some tough roster decisions.

“It’s tough,” Roberts said. “As an organization, more talent coming back is always a good thing. But the uncertainty of players that are active, could they get the tap on the shoulder? That’s not a good feeling. So trying to just focus on performing and helping us win a ballgame, that’s kind of my message.”

One of the decisions the Dodgers have made already, however, is that Betts will no longer hit leadoff, the spot where he has done most of his damage in his big league career and as a member of the Dodgers. Instead, the Dodgers will continue hitting Shohei Ohtani atop the lineup, with Betts sliding in behind at in the two-hole.

Ohtani has done well in the leadoff spot in Betts’ absence. The two-time unanimous AL MVP came into Tuesday with 15 homers and a 1.095 OPS in 41 games as the Dodgers’ leadoff man.

Outside of the success Ohtani has had, the lineup tweak also allows the Dodgers to split up the handedness of their three superstars. Keeping Betts in the middle of lefty hitters Ohtani and Freddie Freeman makes it more difficult for opposing managers to match up with their relievers late in games.

“I talked to him,” Roberts said when asked if Betts signed off on the decision. “I think it’s hard to argue Shohei starting the game off in the one. It breaks up Freddie and [Ohtani] and I like the idea that those guys are going to potentially get the most at-bats.”

It remains to be seen how it all plays out, but the Dodgers are getting closer to having their three-headed monster back at the top of their order.