The Los Angeles Dodgers are gearing up for an exciting start to the 2025 MLB season, and they’re doing it in grand fashion—halfway across the world. But without Mookie Betts?
Dave Roberts and his squad will take on the Chicago Cubs at the iconic Tokyo Dome, giving baseball fans in Japan a rare chance to see the reigning World Series champions in action.
But there’s already one big change to the expected lineup: Betts won’t be playing.
Mookie Betts Sidelined Due to Illness
Leading up to Opening Day, Betts had been dealing with flu-like symptoms. His illness only worsened during the long flight to Tokyo.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke with the Orange County Register and confirmed that the star infielder wouldn’t be available. “He’s been really sick, lost some weight, so we were trying to get him hydrated,” Roberts explained.
Betts missed the team’s exhibition games against the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers. Now, instead of pushing through his illness in Japan, he’s heading back to Los Angeles.
The hope is that with some rest and recovery, he’ll be ready for the Dodgers’ home series against the Detroit Tigers, which follows their return from Tokyo.
How Will the Dodgers Fare Without Betts?
Losing Betts for the Tokyo series is a blow. He’s coming off a solid spring training where he logged 29 plate appearances, hitting one home run and driving in three runs. He’s projected to rack up over 520 plate appearances for the season, with 129 hits and at least 84 runs. That’s not easy production to replace.
If there’s one thing the Dodgers have, it’s depth. They’ve built a roster designed to withstand short-term absences from key players, and this will be an early test of that depth.
With names like Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, and Will Smith in the lineup, the Dodgers still have plenty of firepower to handle the Cubs.
Recent History Between the Dodgers and Cubs
This Tokyo matchup also has an interesting backdrop—recent history favors the Cubs. The last time these two teams met was in Los Angeles during the 2024 season. The Dodgers lost that series 1-2. They won the first game in a high-scoring 10-8 battle, only to drop the next two by 3-6 and 4-10 scores.
Was that the last time the Dodgers won a series against the Cubs? That was back in 2023 at Wrigley Field. But that’s the past. The Dodgers are now coming off a championship season, looking to defend their title, and they’ll have to do it without Betts—at least for this first series.
Baseball fans in Tokyo are in for a treat. While Mookie Betts won’t be in the lineup, the Dodgers still have plenty of star power ready to take center stage.
