ARLINGTON -- Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts, who is off to a sizzling start this season, had to leave Sunday's 6-1 win over the Rangers in the bottom of the second inning with a right shoulder contusion he sustained on the bases in the first.
The hope is that Betts will be back in the lineup on Tuesday night, when the Red Sox open a three-game series in New York against the Yankees.
"He's OK," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "The ball hit him in the shoulder. He didn't feel great, so I took him out. It makes sense for us. Day-and-a-half off and it should be something day to day. Hopefully ready for Tuesday."
After leading off the game with a single, Betts got struck on the right shoulder blade on a throw by Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzman as he was running to second on a grounder by Andrew Benintendi.
Betts was initially flexing his right hand.
"It's kind of like numbness. It hit him in the perfect spot," Cora said. "So he wanted to keep going and I said, 'Nah.'"
After a conference with Cora and a member of the training staff, Betts initially thought he was fine and remained in the game.
When Betts lined out to center in the top of the second, he shook his right arm in an obvious state of discomfort.
"He didn't feel right in the last at-bat, so we decided to take him out," Cora said. "As you know, it's a long season."
Betts came out of the game when the Red Sox went out for defense in the bottom of the inning. Blake Swihart replaced Betts in the leadoff spot and went to left field. Benintendi moved from left to center. Jackie Bradley Jr. moved from center to right.
Betts leads the Major Leagues with 13 home runs, with a slash line of .355/.434/.818.