According to the Athletic, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have both returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup for the first game of the exhibition Freeway Series against the Los Angeles Angels.
Betts’ return to Los Angeles ahead of his teammates was prompted by lingering effects from an illness he contracted while the Dodgers were in Arizona. Despite receiving medical clearance to travel to Tokyo, he was unable to regain sufficient physical condition to play in Japan. Los Angeles’s concern about potential soft-tissue injuries, due to his fatigue and sudden weight loss, led to his early return. Betts’ last game appearance was on March 9th.
Los Angeles Dodgers Get Freeman and Betts Back
Freeman, who was scratched from the Opening Day lineup due to left rib discomfort, has also returned. This injury was in the same area where he suffered fractured rib cartilage before the 2024 postseason. Although there was initial optimism that the latest issue was less severe, and hope that he would play in the second game against the Chicago Cubs, the Dodgers exercised caution and kept him out of the entire Tokyo Series. His return was always expected for the Angels games, as he played in both Tokyo exhibition games before the rib discomfort surfaced.
The Freeway Series will continue with two games in Anaheim, concluding both the Dodgers’ and Angels’ Spring Training schedules.
The Dodgers’ lineup for the game is as follows: Shohei Ohtani (DH), Mookie Betts (SS), Freddie Freeman (1B), Teoscar Hernández (RF), Max Muncy (3B), Will Smith (C), Michael Conforto (LF), Tommy Edman (2B), and Andy Pages (CF).