PHOENIX -- Mookie Betts can’t remember a previous season like this one, in which he hasn’t stayed healthy for long. The Dodgers outfielder dealt with numerous nagging injuries in the first half and has played only three games since the All-Star break due to right hip inflammation.

For Betts, it’s even more frustrating that he can’t pinpoint the causes of these ailments.

“I wish it would have came from [running] into the wall or something, not just from out of nowhere,” Betts said. “It would have made a little more sense. But it is what it is, you just have to deal with it.”

Regardless, Betts feels “ready to go” now. He’s scheduled to be activated from the 10-day injured list on Sunday ahead of the series finale against the D-backs at Chase Field, which had been the Dodgers’ plan over the past week assuming that all went well during Betts’ workouts.

With his earlier injuries, Betts avoided going on the IL. He thought that was going to be the case again this time. He last played in a game on July 19, and he thought he’d need only a couple days of rest.

Instead, Betts went on the IL last Sunday. Part of the reason was that the cortisone shot he received in his hip “took a little longer to kick in than expected,” he said.

“The training staff has been doing a great job in getting me and my body ready,” Betts said. “So it’s definitely been a team effort to get ready.”

During his on-field workouts in recent days, Betts fielded grounders at second base, where he started once last season and has played three innings this year. He said that he had discussions with manager Dave Roberts about potentially playing some second down the stretch to reduce the amount of running he’ll have to do, with most of his starts coming in right field.

That may be more difficult for the Dodgers to do now that they’ve acquired Trea Turner to join an infield mix that already included Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Max Muncy and Chris Taylor. But Roberts is appreciative of Betts’ flexibility.

“The optionality of having Mookie either at second base or right field going forward, I think, is certainly helpful,” Roberts said.

• Seager back, Trea in fold -- what's plan at shortstop?

While Betts was gone, the Dodgers brought in several major reinforcements for their quest to win the National League West. They acquired left-hander Danny Duffy from the Royals, then made a blockbuster deal with the Nationals to land right-hander Max Scherzer and Turner.

Betts knows what it’s like to be the centerpiece of a mega-deal. That’s how he arrived in Los Angeles, having been dealt from the Red Sox in a five-player trade prior to the 2020 season.

“It just shows that the front office is here, we want to win now and we want to win every year,” Betts said. “Just being a part of an organization just like this is the reason why I’m here.”

Scherzer joins team in Phoenix
Scherzer donned Dodger blue for the first time on Saturday, when he became the first of Los Angeles’ Trade Deadline acquisitions to be activated. He came out onto the field during batting practice and received a loud ovation from the Dodgers fans at Chase Field, then played catch with his new teammates in right field.

Roberts said the plan is for Scherzer to throw a bullpen session on Sunday, then potentially make his Dodgers debut on Wednesday against the Astros at Dodger Stadium.

“It’s really surreal -- I know people use that word too often, but just seeing him in our clubhouse on the home side, I’m only used to seeing him in All-Star Games,” Roberts said. “It’s really great, he’s excited.”