The Los Angeles Dodgers have been cruising through the early part of the 2026 season with a solid 21–13 record, but something has been missing from their lineup—Mookie Betts. The former MVP and everyday shortstop has been sidelined since early April with a right oblique strain, missing 26 games. While the defending champs have managed to stay afloat, there's no denying that Betts' presence at the top of the order and his stabilizing defense at shortstop have been sorely missed. Now, the Dodgers are finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

Manager Dave Roberts delivered the most promising update yet ahead of the team's series against the Houston Astros. Betts is scheduled to face live pitching on Thursday—a critical milestone for any hitter working his way back from injury. This step is often the final hurdle in rehab, where timing, reaction, and confidence all come together. If that session goes smoothly, Roberts hinted that a rehab assignment could follow shortly after. That's baseball speak for "he's almost ready."

Betts' 2026 campaign barely had time to get started before it hit pause. In just eight games, he posted a .179 batting average with two home runs and a .710 OPS—numbers that don't reflect the full picture. The transition to shortstop was still a work in progress, but defensively, Betts had been flawless in limited action. The Dodgers were encouraged by how quickly he adapted before the injury struck during an early April game against the Washington Nationals. What initially looked like back discomfort turned out to be a right oblique strain, an injury that demands patience more than anything else.

In Betts' absence, the Dodgers have relied on a patchwork approach at shortstop. Rookie Hyesong Kim has handled the bulk of the innings, while veteran Miguel Rojas has stepped in depending on the matchup. But with Betts closing in on a return, the defending champs are about to get their spark plug back—just in time to build on that strong start.