Mookie Betts returns to lineup as Dodgers host Giants

Another Monday, another post wondering when the Dodgers offense will find itself. After grinding out three runs in a win against Chris Sale, he who had only allowed that many in his last four starts combined, they only mustered exactly two runs in the last two games of the series with the Braves. Bo

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Another Monday, another post wondering when the Dodgers offense will find itself.

After grinding out three runs in a win against Chris Sale, he who had only allowed that many in his last four starts combined, they only mustered exactly two runs in the last two games of the series with the Braves. Both runs came off two-run shots – in Saturday’s game, that came in the bottom of the ninth inning, and in Sunday’s, the bottom of the eighth.

But finally, some good news. Mookie Betts, who has been out for

the past five weeks with a strained right oblique, is expected to be back in the lineup on Monday.

One man alone can’t fix all of the team’s offense woes, but he could be the spark they need.

Before his injury, Betts was batting third in the lineup. There has been some shuffling while he was away, with Will Smith moving to the third spot, and Kyle Tucker moving down to the cleanup spot. Having Mookie bat second gives the Dodgers batters from alternating sides of the plate atop the lineup, or they could rework it so they stack the righties atop the lineup against right-handed pitchers.

Since Mookie only got two games at Triple-A Oklahoma City, he is expected to play Monday and Tuesday with a planned off day on Wednesday. The Dodgers are once again finding themselves in the middle of a 13-game streak with no off days, so they will need to manage Betts’ workload within those parameters.

The Giants are in town for a four-game set. On Monday, they will send Trevor McDonald to the mound. The right-hander has only appeared in one game so far this season, last Monday against the Padres where he threw seven innings of one run ball, allowing only two hits and no walks, while striking out eight. He was originally in there as a spot starter, but the Giants just placed Logan Webb on the IL so McDonald will take his rotation spot.

For their part, the Dodgers will send Roki Sasaki to the mound. Sasaki was previously supposed to start in Saturday’s game against the Braves but was pushed back for Blake Snell’s return to the rotation. So far this season, Sasaki is 1-3 with a 5.97 ERA. In his last outing against the St. Louis Cardinals, he gave up three early runs but then settled down to complete six full innings, at one point retiring 10 straight batters.

The Giants offense is one of the worst in all of baseball, and Sasaki has historically pitched better at home than on the road. If there ever was a time for the Dodgers to right themselves, it’s at home against their rivals with one of their best hitters returning to the lineup.