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Mookie Betts gets a day off on Saturday in the midst of a slump, one that he insists has nothing to do with various nagging injuries he’s had this season.
Betts was 0-for-6 with three infield pop outs and a strikeout on Friday, has one hit in his last 18 at-bats, and is hitting .240/.351/.427 (which is should be noted, is a 121 wRC).
“A few weeks ago, I thought there was more chase with spin. If you look recently, the last four or five game, he’s just not getting to velocity right now,” manager Dave Roberts said Friday night. “We’ll give him a day off to kind of recalibrate, get ready for that day game [Sunday].”
Dodgers-Giants lineups
| Pos | Giants | Pos | Dodgers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Giants | Pos | Dodgers |
| LF | Slater | SS | Lux (L) |
| C | Posey | 2B | Muncy (L) |
| RF | Yastrzemski (L) | 3B | Turner |
| 3B | Longoria | CF | Bellinger (L) |
| 1B | Flores | C | Smith |
| 2B | Solano | 1B | Pujols |
| SS | Crawford (L) | LF | Beaty (L) |
| CF | Dubón | RF | McKinstry (L) |
| P | Webb | P | Urías |
Betts missed four games in early April with back soreness, and missed two games last weekend with left shoulder soreness, something he was receiving treatment on for more than a week. Since returning to the lineup on Tuesday, Betts has one hit in four games, a triple on Friday night.
On Wednesday in Houston, Betts told reporters his injuries had nothing to do with his slump.
“I don’t have any excuses. Sometimes you just don’t play well. I’m not here to say this is why, that it’s this, that and the other,” Betts said, per Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic.
With Betts sitting on Saturday, Zach McKinstry starts in right field after getting activated off the injured list. McKinstry missed 33 games with a strained right oblique.
Chris Taylor is also getting a day off, with Max Muncy playing second base, Albert Pujols starting at first, and Matt Beaty in left field.
San Francisco roster moves
The Dodgers missed Logan Webb last weekend in San Francisco when the right-hander was on the injured list with a shoulder strain. He missed the minimum 10 days, and was activated for Saturday’s game to start.
Webb has a 4.09 ERA and 3.52 FIP this season, with 47 strikeouts and 17 walks in 44 innings. Left-handers are hitting .350/.416/.525 against him this season, and .294/.365/.438 in his career.
Right-hander Wilmer Flores was also activated from the injured list and bats fifth for the Giants, playing first base. Pitcher Nick Tropeano and utility man Jason Vosler were optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.
Game info
Teams: Dodgers (31-20) vs. Giants (31-20)
Location: Dodger Stadium
Time: 4:15 p.m.
TV: Fox (Joe Davis, Eric Karros)