Bates' condition is improving, but the Dodgers still need to be cautiously optimistic

Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts has lost about 18 pounds (8.2 kilograms) in the past two weeks due to an unknown illness. But as of Monday, the star player's condition appears to be taking a turn for the better.

Bates revealed on Sunday that he vomited every time he ate solid food for the past two weeks and could only rely on fluids such as milkshakes for maintenance. Symptoms first appeared before the Dodgers' Spring Training finale on March 11 and continued until the team traveled to Tokyo for the season's opener. Despite having blood tests and vital signs that were normal, Bates has started taking new medications to control vomiting.

The good news came on Monday, and according to head coach Dave Roberts, Bates completed a full day of training at Dodger Stadium, including batting, handling boccia and passing drills, and more importantly, being able to eat normally. "I think Murch has reached a turning point," Roberts said ahead of the Dodgers-Angels "Highway Series" exhibition game, "and he said he was feeling good on his way back and expected to play tomorrow." The situation is improving. "

Although the worst phase of vomiting symptoms has passed, the sudden drop in weight from 175 pounds (about 79.4 kilograms) at the beginning of spring training to 157 pounds (about 71.2 kilograms) is still worrying. If Tuesday is back as scheduled, Bates could start Thursday's home opener against the Tigers.

"It's hard to imagine playing in a fasted state," Bates admitted on Sunday, "and I may need to get used to being lighter early in the season." But I was really fed up with sitting on the sidelines and vomiting constantly, I just wanted to get back on the field. "

The case of another key player, Freddie Freeman, is also worth watching. The first baseman returned to exhibition play on Sunday after missing the Tokyo Series due to left flank discomfort, handling the defense with ease on four occasions and being substituted in the fifth inning as a precautionary measure. He continued to be in the starting lineup on Monday.

"He's been painless for the last few days," Roberts said of Freeman, "but we need to keep monitoring." If you weren't sure he was recovered, you wouldn't risk sending him on the field. Freeman's injury dates back to the 2023 playoffs, and he still won the World Series MVP while playing with an injury.

During the final round of batting practice before the opening of the Tokyo series, Freeman suddenly felt unwell. "The team doctor judged that it may have been a transient reaction triggered by scar tissue," Roberts explained, "and the decision to take a truce out of an abundance of caution proved to be the right one." "

The absence of two MVP-caliber stars at the same time is a devastating blow to any team, but the Dodgers showed their depth in both games in Tokyo. "It's the most talented squad we've ever had," Roberts said, "and the fact that we were able to win with two players in a row in the 48 hours leading up to the opening game was a testament to the resilience of the team." How to maintain the form of substitute players and flexibly deploy the lineup will be an important topic for us this season. "