Right after sweeping the Padres to grab the top spot in the NL West, the Dodgers came crashing back to reality. Costly defensive mistakes unraveled them in a 3-4 walk-off loss to the Rockies in the series opener. Courtesy? Teoscar Hernandez, whose miscues in right field proved costly, handed L.A. its first loss to Colorado since September 21, 2024! Costly enough to make Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admit, “He’s got to get better out there. There’s just no [other] way to put it.”

After the game ended, Mookie Betts reportedly met with Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and manager Dave Roberts. Although the details of the meeting remain unclear, many speculate it may have focused on a potential position change that could move Betts back to the outfield.

While Betts has been the team’s primary shortstop, the Dodgers might view him as a greater asset in the outfield as they pursue their second consecutive championship. Hernandez, meanwhile, has struggled defensively this season, ranking in the third percentile for Fielding Run Value according to Baseball Savant.

“Dave Roberts said Mookie Betts is in his office ‘all the time,’” Dodgers beat reporter Fabian Ardaya reported on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. “Was the case when he was slumping and he’s wanted to check in with him frequently even though his swinging it better. Said he has not discussed right field at all with Betts at any point this season.” But former GM Jim Bowden isn’t buying it.

“99% I can guarantee you that the meeting that took place was about Mookie Betts moving back to right field,” the former GM said via Foul Territory on August 21. “I can promise you that Andrew Friedman didn’t go down there to check on Mookie Betts’s swing. And I can promise you that the front office has been watching the defense of Teo in right field, and they’re watching Conforto hit nothing in left field. So they can say whatever they want to say. And believe me, I was at GM for 16 and a half years. I did the same thing. I’m going to come out and publicly protect everybody, right?“

So, in simple terms, the Dodgers might be leaning toward sliding Betts back to his natural spot in right field while letting Alex Freeland and Miguel Rojas share duties at shortstop.

Notably, Betts has logged more than 5,000 innings in right and owns 6 Gold Gloves there, establishing himself as a premier right fielder. So it’s clearly his strongest position. Freeland, meanwhile, has over 300 starts at shortstop from his minor-league days, and Rojas was actually a mentor to Betts during his move from right to short.

Hence, the pressure to make that switch is growing, especially with Hernandez struggling defensively in right. And reportedly, Hernandez could move to left field for Michael Conforto, who’s been ice cold at the plate, hitting below .200.

So, no matter how much Roberts tries to hide tha fact, Bowden is confident that Betts is being shifted back to right field! Seems like a now or never!

Time is ticking for the Dodgers

The Rockies are now 2-1 in the series. Yes, as outrageous as it sounds, the Dodgers are on the verge of losing a series to the Rockies for the first time since October 2022. And to make matters worse, today turned out to be Shohei Ohtani’s roughest outing of the season.

In the Dodgers’ 3-8 loss, he gave up five runs on nine hits in just four innings. This is his worst pitching performance in nearly five years.

According to a report on the official Major League Baseball website, MLB.com, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “Ohtani received a contusion on his right thigh. It doesn’t seem like a detailed examination will be necessary,” adding, “I hope Ohtani can return to the starting lineup for the first game of the weekend series against the San Diego Padres on the 23rd after resting in the final game of the series against Colorado on the 22nd.”

Now, they’ll need a win on Thursday just to escape Colorado with a split against the team with the worst record in the majors (37-90). And the Dodgers would have to do it without Ohtani, who’s scheduled for a day off.

With such a massive stretch coming up, including another big weekend series against the Padres, the Dodgers may have no choice but to shift Betts to the right field.