Dodgers Make Mookie Betts Announcement After Walk-Off Home Run..
The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their red-hot start to the 2025 campaign on Friday night, picking up an 8-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers thanks to a walk-off three-run home run from Mookie Betts. On Saturday, the Dodgers made a big announcement involving their superstar shortstop. Betts delivered the goods for L.A. against Detroit, as he mashed a pair of home runs, the second of which decided the outcome of the game. After dealing with a stomach virus that caused him to lose almost 20 pounds, Betts revealed just how special this moment was for him after the dust had settled. “That was super special,” Betts said. “I know it sounds super selfish, but more for me. I was really proud of myself for coming in and playing underweight. Not that it’s a big deal playing underweight, but just the fight that I’ve kind of been through — the ups and downs, and the nights I’m just crying because I’m sick, and my wife’s
there holding me. That’s where the emotion comes from.” Without Betts, the Dodgers may not have managed to win their fourth straight game to start the new season. They will have to find a way to win without him on Saturday night, though, as the team announced that Betts won’t be in their starting lineup as they look to finish off their sweep of the Tigers. Miguel Rojas will be filling in for Betts at shortstop in this game, but the good news is that Los Angeles has more than enough firepower in their lineup that should be able to overcome his absence for one game. Roki Sasaki will look to lead L.A. to their fifth straight win to open the season, while Reese Olson will take the mound for a Detroit team that is looking to avoid opening 2025 by getting swept. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 9:10 p.m. ET.
The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their red-hot start to the 2025 campaign on Friday night, picking up an 8-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers thanks to a walk-off three-run home run from Mookie Betts. On Saturday, the Dodgers made a big announcement involving their superstar shortstop. Betts delivered the goods for L.A. against Detroit, as he mashed a pair of home runs, the second of which decided the outcome of the game. After dealing with a stomach virus that caused him to lose almost 20 pounds, Betts revealed just how special this moment was for him after the dust had settled. “That was super special,” Betts said. “I know it sounds super selfish, but more for me. I was really proud of myself for coming in and playing underweight. Not that it’s a big deal playing underweight, but just the fight that I’ve kind of been through — the ups and downs, and the nights I’m just crying because I’m sick, and my wife’s
there holding me. That’s where the emotion comes from.” Without Betts, the Dodgers may not have managed to win their fourth straight game to start the new season. They will have to find a way to win without him on Saturday night, though, as the team announced that Betts won’t be in their starting lineup as they look to finish off their sweep of the Tigers. Miguel Rojas will be filling in for Betts at shortstop in this game, but the good news is that Los Angeles has more than enough firepower in their lineup that should be able to overcome his absence for one game. Roki Sasaki will look to lead L.A. to their fifth straight win to open the season, while Reese Olson will take the mound for a Detroit team that is looking to avoid opening 2025 by getting swept. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 9:10 p.m. ET…
Fernando Tatis Jr. needed just two games to unleash his first bat flip of the season..
Fernando Tatis Jr. finally looks like his old self. He was hampered with a stress reaction in his femur last year and didn’t quite look like his usual speedy and electric self after he returned from a two-month hiatus.
Clearly the offseason recovery has done him well. In just his second game this season, he smacked a no-doubt home run against the Atlanta Braves and topped off the powerful hit with a bat flip that made him one of the most exciting players over the last few seasons.
Nothing quite like a Tatis bat flip 😍 pic.twitter.com/qEkT7Ycokx
— MLB (@MLB) March 29, 2025
San Diego Padres fans can surely be happy to have the old Tatis back. He wasn’t destructive in the postseason last year and I’m sure the Padres want to avoid another loss to division rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the postseason.
Especially when you look at their offense being the reason they struggled to end that series. They will need a healthy Tatis Jr. going into the postseason and Friday was a reminder of just how electric he is when he’s on the field.
Fernando Tatis Jr. is the not so secret weapon San Diego is happy to unleash
The Padres are getting Tatis back to his MLB roots. In 2021 and 2023, Tatis batted primarily in the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Prior to that, he was mainly a leadoff hitter. This year, the Padres have experimented with back atop the order.
In two games, he’s slashing .500/.500/.875 and got his first home run of the season. It’s hard to deny how good of a leadoff hitter he is. Obviously with his power, it makes it ideal to put him down in the lineup to bring in some runs.
But the numbers don’t lie, he’s far more productive as a leadoff hitter. Since his MLB debut, he’s had at least 100 at bats in the leadoff spot and his lowest batting average is .289 in 2023. His next lowest is .295.
This year is trending toward being another one of those breakout years in the leadoff spot. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Padres manager Mike Shildt the team was planning on putting Tatis as leadoff hitter against left-handed arms. Shildt putting him against a righty on Friday was a sign they might lean toward keeping him as leadoff.
He didn’t have a single at-bat as the leadoff hitter last year. I’m sure part of that was that he missed a chunk of the season.
The Padres know they want to beef up the offense this year. Their biggest hindrance in the postseason last year was a lack of timely hits. While Tatis as leadoff hitter doesn’t necessarily change that, if they can turn that into an offensive spark, it could be the difference for them.
If Friday was any indication, Tatis isn’t just back to his old form, he’s back to his most productive spot in the batting order and the Padres are 2-0 with him as leadoff hitter.
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