Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder/second baseman Mookie Betts will serve as the club's leadoff hitter for 2023, according to skipper Dave Roberts. Roberts noted that there were discussions surrounding the lefty-swinging Gavin Lux (knee) leading off against certain right-hander pitchers, but with Lux out for the season with an ACL tear, it will be Betts as the full-time leadoff man. The 30-year-old Betts, who will start approximately 20 games at second base this season, hit .269 with 35 home runs, 12 stolen bases and an .873 OPS across 142 games in the 2022 campaign. The 2018 AL MVP's bat has been at least 30% above league average in each of the last five seasons, per wRC+, and gains significant value as the leadoff hitter in an offense that led all of baseball with 847 runs scored a season ago. He should certainly be one of the first outfielders off the board on draft day.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that outfielder Mookie Betts would play closer to 20 games at second base during the regular season to give Miguel Vargas days off when necessary. In addition to gaining second base eligibility in some fantasy leagues, Betts will serve as LA's leadoff man. It will give him more opportunities to score runs, but it will also take away valuable RBI opportunities. The 30-year-old will come off the board towards the back end of the first round of fantasy drafts this spring. The six-time All-Star hit .269/.340/.533 with an .873 OPS, career-high 35 home runs, 82 RBI, league-high 117 runs scored and 12 stolen bases in 639 plate appearances and 142 games in his third year with the Blue in 2022.

Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said Tuesday that Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts will play some second base for Team USA during this year's World Baseball Classic. Team USA's only true second baseman on the roster is Mets Jeff McNeil, but Betts began his career as a second baseman and has sporadically played it throughout his big-league career. This plan may also be implemented by the Dodgers at times this season, as Gavin Lux (knee) will miss the entire 2023 season due to a torn ACL. Betts is a top fantasy option in a relatively shallow position of outfield, but second base is even shallower. As such, his fantasy value could rise that much more if he becomes second base eligible during the season.

The offseason is officially no more, but Spring Training is here, and with it comes the daily influx of baseball news that fantasy managers have missed in the last few months. Lineup news, actual games happening, constant waiver wire moves, pitching assignments, and bullpen usage.Baseball is back and so too is fantasy baseball, with drafts either starting in the near or not-too-near future for many. This column aims to cover any and all fantasy baseball news, big or small, and how it pertains to your fantasy team. Spring training or the regular season, it's covered here.Has a player who's usually been hitting in the middle of a lineup suddenly batting eighth or ninth for an extended period? The fantasy implications will be covered here. The same goes for injuries and injured placements and whether or not you should consider picking up a player who was recently called up. Basically, any kernel of fantasy news and its relevance to fantasy managers could be covered here. Today, the news of the day is the fantasy impact of Gavin Lux's ACL injury plus a look at potential rotation options in Tampa Bay in the wake of Tyler Glasnow's oblique injury. 

Fantasy Impact of Gavin Lux's Injury

Lux will reportedly miss the 2023 season with a torn right ACL per a ... [More]

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said outfielder Mookie Betts playing more second base this season is being discussed. Roberts also said that outfielder Chris Taylor will start a throwing program in order to play more shortstop this year after the news that Gavin Lux (knee) will miss the entire 2023 season due to a torn ACL. In addition to Taylor, offseason acquisition Miguel Rojas is a top candidate to take over for Lux at the 6 this year. Taylor has plenty of experience playing shortstop in his career, so a platoon could develop with Rojas at shortstop. Betts, who is already considered a top-10 fantasy asset, would be even more valuable to fantasy managers this year if he gained second base eligibility.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts gained eight pounds in the offseason to add some strength. It came at the recommendation of Driveline, where he went this winter "because my employer told me to." Betts made his sixth All-Star team in 2022 and also clubbed a career-high 35 home runs while slashing .269/.340/.533 with an .873 OPS, 82 RBI, a league-high 117 runs scored and 12 stolen bases in 639 plate appearances in 142 games. The increased power was nice, but it also led to a lower batting average, and the 30-year-old also isn't running nearly as much as he did earlier in his career with the Boston Red Sox. Betts isn't in the discussion as one of the first players off the board in fantasy drafts anymore, but he's still a fine first-round selection.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts isn't in the team's lineup for the first game of a doubleheader against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday. Betts is hitting .273 with a .345 on-base percentage, 34 home runs, and 12 stolen bases in 583 plate appearances this season. The Dodgers will instead start Joey Gallo in right field against the Diamondbacks and right-hander Zach Davies. Gallo is batting .167 this season with a .286 on-base percentage, 18 home runs, and three stolen bases in 378 plate appearances. He'll hit fourth on Tuesday.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts clubbed his 33rd long ball of the season as his team routed the Padres 12-1 on Saturday night. The former AL MVP led off the first inning with a triple, and then his three-run blast in the fourth off Sean Manaea helped blow the game open as he finished the evening going 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBI. Betts has put up stellar numbers so far in 2022 with 73 RBI, 104 runs, 12 steals, and a .288 BA through 114 games, which should be enough to give him some NL MVP consideration by season's end.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts isn't in the team's lineup on Monday for a matchup with the Miami Marlins and right-handed starter Pablo Lopez. The 29-year-old is in the midst of another highly productive season, batting .281 with a .350 on-base percentage, 31 home runs, and 12 stolen bases in 500 plate appearances so far. Joey Gallo will move over to start in right field with Chris Taylor stepping in as the team's left field. The outfielders will hit sixth and seventh respectively. Shortstop Trea Turner is batting leadoff against Lopez and the Marlins.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts won't be in the lineup for Monday's contest. Manager Dave Roberts mentioned following Sunday's game that Betts will sit out on Monday. This is odd timing considering that Betts has been on fire at the plate recently. The 29-year-old has four home runs over his last three games. Fantasy managers in daily formats should double check that they don't have Betts in their lineup for Monday.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts went 4-for-6 with a double, two home runs, four RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base in the 10-6 extra-inning win over the Miami Marlins on Friday. The huge performance boosted his season line to .278/.348/.547 with an .895 OPS, 29 home runs, 66 RBI, 97 runs scored and 12 stolen bases in 491 plate appearances over 106 games for the Blue in 2022. The six-time All-Star remains a must-start each and every day in fantasy leagues, and he's hitting .323 (30-for-93) with six long balls, 14 RBI, 26 runs scored and five stolen bases in 22 games in the month of August. There aren't many players as hot as Betts right now.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts provided half of the Dodgers' base hits in a 2-1 victory over the Miami Marlins Friday, going 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, and a run scored. Betts has been outstanding over his last 15 games, slashing .339/.382/.661 with four home runs and 15 runs scored in that span. He's lived up to expectations this year for fantasy managers with an .888 OPS, 27 homers, 87 runs scored, 61 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 455 plate appearances.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts is not in the starting lineup on Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers. It looks to be a regular day of rest for Betts, but fantasy managers need to make sure to move him to their benches for the day. The 29-year-old has been great so far in the month of August, going 19-for-63 (.302) with four home runs, nine RBI, 15 runs scored and three stolen bases in 15 games played. It will be Betts' first day off since July 3. Joey Gallo will start in right field on Thursday and will hit seventh against Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes. Gallo was terrible with the New York Yankees before being dealt to LA at the trade deadline, but he's been better so far with the Dodgers in nine games, going 6-for-23 (.261) with three home runs and five RBI.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts had the team's biggest hit of the day against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday. In the eighth inning of the game, while the score was tied 6-6, Betts launched a three-run homer that would give the team a lead it wouldn't relinquish. The home run was his only hit of the day as he went 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base. The 29-year-old missed some time due to injuries during the first half of the year, but he's been fantastic when he's been on the field. Across 74 games, he's slashed .265/.341/.530 while compiling 21 home runs, seven stolen bases, 50 RBI and 64 runs.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts will be playing second base in Monday's game against the Colorado Rockies. The 29-year-old was activated from the 10-day injured list on Sunday and the team is going to attempt to preserve his legs by giving him some starts at the keystone going forward. There's a good chance he'll get enough starts at second base to earn eligibility there in a number of fantasy formats. That would of course increase his fantasy value as second base is one of the weakest positions in fantasy. Betts showed no signs of rust in his return to action on Sunday, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, two walks and two runs scored in the game.

As expected, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts (ribs) has been activated from the 10-day injured list. He is back in the starting lineup for Sunday's series finale against the San Diego Padres. He will be hitting leadoff and covering right field in the game. Betts wound up missing about two weeks due to a rib injury. The 29-year-old is in the midst of a stellar season. He has a .273/.349/.535 slash line to go along with 17 home runs, six stolen bases, 40 RBI and 53 runs over 60 games.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gave an update on star outfielder Mookie Betts (ribs) on Saturday. He stated that Betts could be activated from the injured list on either Sunday or Monday while adding that the 29-year-old would play second base upon his return. Betts has been out since mid-June due to a rib injury. He's been ramping up his baseball activities over the past week and he will be able to return without a rehab stint. Betts has been fantastic over the first half of the 2022 season. Through 60 games, he's slashed .273/.349/.535 with 17 home runs, six stolen bases, 40 RBI and 53 runs.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts (ribs) got in an on-field workout on Friday before his team's game against the San Diego Padres. Betts has been on the injured list since June 19 after injuring his ribs. Betts reportedly "felt good" after his workout and could possibly be activated from the injured list in the next few days. The All-Star outfielder is hitting .273 with 17 homers, 53 runs, 40 RBI, and six steals on the season.

Los Angeles Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts said "early next week is certainly a possibility" for outfielder Mookie Betts (ribs) to return from the injured list. There's also a chance that Betts will play some second base when he returns in order to minimize his throwing, according to Roberts. The 29-year-old took batting practice on Thursday, and there's a chance that he'll be back as early as July 4 next Monday. The Dodgers could also ease Betts back into action without having him throw by using him as the designated hitter. Either way, fantasy managers won't complain, as Betts is a no-brainer must-start fantasy asset when healthy. The former MVP was hitting .273/.349/.535 with an .884 OPS, 17 home runs, 40 RBI, 53 runs scored and six stolen bases in 60 games before he was injured.

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (ribs), who is on the injured list with a right-rib fracture, is taking batting practice on Thursday at Dodger Stadium. The team is hopeful that he will return by the All-Star break, although he could initially be limited to designated hitter duties. The 29-year-old superstar landed on the injured list on June 18, but he resumed baseball activities on Wednesday and is getting closer to a return. Until Betts returns, expect Eddy Alvarez and Trayce Thompson to continue splitting playing time in right field for the Blue. Before his injury, Betts was swinging it well with a .273/.349/.535 slash line with an .884 OPS, 17 home runs, 40 RBI, 53 runs scored and six stolen bases.