The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs will kick off the 2025 MLB season with a two-game series in Tokyo, Japan. The Dodgers are the reigning World Series champions and spent the offseason reloading, making them the overwhelming favorite once again. However, ahead of the opener, Los Angeles got some bad news regarding superstar outfielder Mookie Betts.
Mookie Betts To Miss Tokyo Series With Illness
In a surprising turn of events, Betts will not play in either game in Tokyo due to an illness, manager Dave Roberts revealed, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
Mookie Betts won’t be playing in the Tokyo Series, Dave Roberts said. The team is contemplating getting him back to Los Angeles early to continue recovering from his illness.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 17, 2025
“Mookie Betts won’t be playing in the Tokyo Series,” Roberts said. “The team is contemplating getting him back to Los Angeles early to continue recovering from his illness.”
Betts reportedly got sick shortly before leaving for Tokyo on Wednesday, March 12. Now, the team is considering sending him back to Los Angeles to recover, with Roberts admitting that the option is “on the table.”
Due to the illness, Betts has lost 15 pounds, and Roberts has expressed concern for his star player.
“The thing is, when you lose a lot of weight, when you’re dehydrated, that’s what opens a person up to soft-tissue injuries,” Roberts said, per Ardaya. “We’re very mindful of that.”
A video from over the weekend showed Betts walking gingerly off the field in Tokyo, and he didn’t look like his usual self.
Mookie Betts gingerly walking off the field after working out pregame. He is sick and will sit out his second straight game before being reevaluated tomorrow to see if he can play Opening Day against the Cubs. pic.twitter.com/H2cSqIKWWv
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) March 16, 2025
It’s a tough situation for Betts and the Dodgers, though the hope is he’ll recover in time for the home opener on March 27 against the Detroit Tigers.
Who Will Start in Betts’ Place?
Betts, who has spent most of his career in right field, is set to be the Dodgers’ starting shortstop in 2025. However, with him out for at least the first two games, Miguel Rojas will take his place, per Ardaya.
“Miguel Rojas will start both games at shortstop for the Dodgers in Tokyo. Cubs are starting two lefties — Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele.”
In 2024, Betts played 116 regular-season games, hitting 19 home runs, with 75 runs batted in and 16 stolen bases while batting .289.
The Dodgers and Cubs open the series on Tuesday, March 18, before returning to the United States. Whether Betts will be ready for the home opener remains to be seen, but his status will be one to watch over the next week.