Mookie Betts could play immediately after injury scare

BOSTON — The potential American League Most Valuable Player spoke optimistically after an injury scare.

Mookie Betts could return to the Red Sox lineup as soon as their next game after he was pulled in the sixth inning at Fenway Park on Sunday because of what the team called soreness in his left side.

“Be ready to play Tuesday,” Betts said.

Betts, who went to the disabled list in June because of a left abdominal strain, exited after making throws to the plate from right field on consecutive plays. He was stretching out his side on the field before he exited with a trainer accompanying him.

Manager Alex Cora said following a 4-3 Red Sox win over the Mets that Betts may be the designated hitter on Tuesday against the Yankees.

The throw that directly preceded Betts’ exit came on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Wilmer Flores, scoring Austin Jackson from third base. The Red Sox unsuccessfully challenged the safe call at the plate.

“[Betts] started stretching and Jackie [Bradley Jr.] was the one that was kind of like, ‘Hey,’” Cora said. “He got our attention. Even if [Betts] said, ‘I’m OK,’ I was going to take him out. I’m not going to take any chances.”

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Betts is to be further evaluated on Monday’s team off-day, but the general message on Sunday was one of calm. 

"He’ll go to the stadium," Cora said of the plan Monday. "He’ll be there and we’ll go from there. Talking to him just now, most likely he’ll DH and we’ll play J.D. [Martinez] in right field which is good for J.D. He’s happy with that one.
Betts’ prior trip to the DL makes any injury to that area more concerning. Oblique and intercostal muscles, if involved, can be debilitating for lengthy periods of time.

Betts said he first felt this recent discomfort prior to Sunday’s game.

“Couple days,” Betts said. “Was able to get some stretching, get some work in. Kind of flared back up on the second throw. Like I said it’ll be fine, and be ready to play Tuesday.”

Betts was out of the starting lineup on Friday, although he made it sound like that decision was pre-planned. Betts said on Sunday that Friday was “just a day off.”

When Betts went to the disabled list in June, Betts said he felt discomfort hitting, not throwing. The injuries appear different in at least that way, because he said Sunday he only feels discomfort when throwing. 

“Hitting and everything is fine,” Betts said Sunday. “Just a throw, sore a little bit.”

Compare that to June, when Betts said he was bothered swinging the most.

“I can run, throw, do anything else,” Betts said in June. “Swinging is the time where I feel like that’s when I definitely feel it the most."

Betts was asked on Sunday if this is the same matter he dealt with previously. Betts said it was not, although neither the question nor the answer made clear if Betts was addressing severity of the injury or the location of it.

“Not the same, be ready to play Tuesday,” Betts said.

There’s a lot to be enjoyed for the Red Sox in coming days, and perhaps personally for Betts as well.

The Sox are scheduled to start a three-game series vs. the Yankees Tuesday and will clinch the American League East if they can win just one game in New York. Betts is also closing in on a 30-30 season, with 29 home runs and 28 steals, and he’s a leading candidate to win AL MVP.

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