Notes: Betts' 'spa day'; Roberts on Baez

August 21st, 2020

Everybody chill. is healthy and just getting a game off.

Betts, who played the previous eight games, was out of the Dodgers lineup for Friday night’s game against Colorado. Joc Pederson started in right field and Chris Taylor started in left, with AJ Pollock in center and Cody Bellinger at first base.

“Just to get him off his feet. Get him a spa day,” said manager Dave Roberts. “Going to try to stay away from him and get him back in there tomorrow.”

Betts missed four starts earlier this month with a jammed finger.

has had a velocity drop this year and on Thursday went on the injured list with a strained right groin. Roberts said the first he heard of the injury was this week, but he didn’t rule out that something has been bothering Baez this year.

“I think it’s new,” said Roberts. “I don’t think he’s been 100 percent physically right for me. Injury report says otherwise. Hopefully, this could be a good thing in the sense of getting his body back, get the groin thing taken care of and once we get him back, we can ride him through the postseason.”

Baez reported late to Summer Camp, with no team explanation.

• Catcher , out with a hamstring injury, took four at-bats at the alternative training site on Friday and, “if all goes well,” is expected back from the injured list and in the lineup on Sunday, Roberts said.

• Roberts said there has been "considerably less" discussion about the Trade Deadline with the front office this year compared to previous seasons.

“This has been sneaking up on me,” Roberts said of the Aug. 31 deadline. “I don’t know if it’s lack of anticipation, the lack of need when you look at our ballclub. Andrew [Friedman] and baseball ops are going to be kicking tires until the end and seeing if there’s anything on the margins to get better. I won’t say what we need because I think we’re in a good spot. And I just don’t know how active teams are going to be.”

• During pregame ceremonies Sunday, the Dodgers will honor the memories of Gianna and Kobe Bryant on what would have been Kobe’s 42nd birthday. Fans can tune in to SportsNet LA for live coverage of the ceremony beginning at 12:40 p.m. PT prior to the Dodgers’ 1:10 p.m. game against Colorado.