In a game that ended with a 3-0 victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Kansas City Royals, the spotlight was stolen by a frightening moment involving Dodgers' shortstop, Mookie Betts. During the bottom of the seventh inning, Betts was struck by a 97.9 mph four-seamer from Royals' right-hander Dan Altavilla, resulting in an immediate fall to the ground and visible pain.

Following the game, the Dodgers announced that Betts had sustained a left hand fracture. Fortunately, surgery will not be required, but there is no specified timetable for his return. As manager Dave Roberts and a trainer attended to Betts, he remained on the ground for a significant amount of time before managing to stand up and walk off the field. Pinch-runner Miguel Rojas replaced him, taking over at shortstop for the remaining two innings of the game.

Betts, the Dodgers' leadoff hitter and a consistently strong contributor, had been batting an impressive .304 with an .893 OPS this season. He also tied for third on the team with 10 home runs. Known for his exceptional skills as a six-time Gold Glove winner in right field, Betts has smoothly transitioned to playing shortstop in his first full season at the position.

The injury to Betts added to the Dodgers' woes on the injury front for the day. Prior to the game, they had already placed right-handed pitchers Yoshinobu Yamamoto (right triceps tightness) and Michael Grove (right intercostal strain) on the injured list.

The Dodgers will now have to navigate a challenging period without one of their star players, relying on their depth and reserves to fill the void left by Betts. The team and fans alike will surely be eagerly awaiting his return to the field as soon as he achieves a full recovery from the hand fracture.