Red Sox fans will have to wait to welcome Mookie Betts back to Fenway Park this weekend versus the Los Angeles Dodgers.

His rehab progress has expedited his return timetable, and the team is eagerly anticipating his comeback. During his absence, the Dodgers have dropped five of 16 games, and their division lead dropped to five games over the San Diego Padres. His veteran presence has been missed in the clubhouse as much as his bat has been at the plate.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts reveals Mookie Betts' expected return date after missing some time due to an undisclosed reason.

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Roberts chose to keep Ohtani at leadoff as the designated hitter on Friday, with Miguel Rojas batting ninth at shortstop. Smith will bat second, where Betts has taken 352 of his 370 at-bats this season. Ohtani has taken 16 of his 395 at-bats at the second spot, while Smith has taken just five of his 266 at-bats there.

Though he may no longer play in LA, Walker Buehler finally earned his World Series ring in a special moment with his old Dodgers teammates.

Shohei Ohtani homered for the fifth consecutive game on Wednesday, tying a Los Angeles Dodgers franchise record. Yankees star Aaron Judge was the last player to homer in five consecutive games, accomplishing that feat last year.