Dodgers' Mookie Betts Won't Play vs. Cubs in 2025 MLB Tokyo Series Due to Illness

Mookie Betts will not play in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 2025 MLB Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs due to an illness, manager Dave Roberts announced (via The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya).

The team is considering sending Betts back to Los Angeles early to continue recovering from his illness after arriving in Japan on Thursday, per Ardaya.

The shortstop did not play in the Dodgers' exhibition games over the weekend against the Yomiuri Giants and the Hanshin Tigers. They lost 3-0 to the Tigers and defeated the Giants 5-1.

The team will remain in Japan through at least Wednesday, with two games schedule against the Cubs on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Betts experienced "some fatigue" after working out on Sunday, manager Dave Roberts told reporters.

The 2018 MVP last played in a spring training game on March 9 in a 7-5 loss to the Oakland Athletics. Betts went hitless in two at-bats.

After the Tokyo Series, the Dodgers are slated to resume the regular season on March 27 against the Detroit Tigers at home and Roberts remains hopeful that Betts will be available.

“Optimism for Opening Day. I think that we’re really trying to be mindful of not just Opening Day but not putting him in harm’s way,” Roberts told reporters.

Betts finished last season with a .289/.372/.491 slash line, along with 19 home runs and 75 RBI for the Dodgers.