The Los Angeles Dodgers faced a double dose of bad news ahead of their May 7, 2025, matchup against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park, with star outfielder Teoscar Hernández landing on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain and Mookie Betts taking a scheduled day off, per manager Dave Roberts. With Hernández sidelined and Betts resting, the Dodgers will lean on James Outman and Hyeseong Kim to fill the void alongside NL MVP candidate Shohei Ohtani, who’s carrying a heavier offensive load. Despite these setbacks, Los Angeles’ 22-14 record keeps them atop the NL West, and their depth—bolstered by a .263 team batting average (4th in MLB)—gives them a cushion against a struggling Marlins squad (10-26). Let’s dive into the absences, the replacements, and what this means for the Dodgers’ season.
Hernández’s injury, sustained during a May 5 game against San Diego, is a blow. The 33-year-old right fielder, who hit .290 with seven homers and 18 RBIs in 35 games this season, felt discomfort after legging out a double, prompting a “concerning” initial assessment from Roberts, per MLB.com. An MRI confirmed a moderate groin strain, sidelining him for at least a week, with a likely return around May 15, per The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya. Hernández’s 124 wRC+ and .868 OPS were critical to a Dodgers outfield that’s already weathered injuries to Tommy Edman (wrist, out until June) and Jason Heyward (back, day-to-day). His absence leaves a gap in the cleanup spot, where he’s hit .310 with a .920 OPS, per Baseball-Reference.
Betts’ absence, fortunately, isn’t injury-related. Roberts, speaking pregame on May 7, confirmed it’s a planned rest day for the 32-year-old leadoff hitter, who’s played 34 of 36 games, missing only one for a minor ankle tweak on April 20. Betts, slashing .302/.405/.495 with three homers, 20 RBIs, and a 2.1 WAR, has been a rock, leading the team in runs (22) and walks (24). His 94.8 mph exit velocity (94th percentile) and .405 OBP (6th in NL) set the table for Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. With Miami’s 5.02 team ERA (26th) and a favorable matchup against lefty Ryan Weathers (4.65 ERA), Roberts saw a chance to give Betts a breather, especially with Hernández out. “It’s a marathon,” Roberts told the Los Angeles Times. “Mookie’s gonna need these days to stay fresh.”
Stepping up are Outman and Kim. Outman, a 27-year-old center fielder, was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on May 6 after hitting .279 with four homers and a .901 OPS in 22 games, per MiLB.com. His 2024 MLB stint was rough (.147, 3 HRs in 44 games), but his 2023 breakout (23 HRs, .790 OPS) shows potential. Kim, a 25-year-old Korean rookie signed to a six-year, $18 million deal in December 2024, brings speed and contact, hitting .268 with two steals in 15 games as a utilityman. Kim’s .333 average vs. lefties and Outman’s 10.2% walk rate could exploit Weathers’ 1.38 WHIP. Ohtani, hitting .340 with six homers and a 1.009 OPS, will anchor the lineup, fresh off a three-hit game on May 6. His 50-50 potential—projected for 46 HRs and 44 SBs, per FanGraphs—makes him the key to weathering this storm.
The Dodgers’ depth has kept them afloat despite an injury-plagued roster. Their 4.8 runs per game (8th) and .751 OPS (7th) are driven by Freeman (.315, 18 RBIs) and Max Muncy (14 walks), but the pitching staff is battered. Tyler Glasnow (oblique, out until June), Bobby Miller (shoulder, mid-May return), and reliever Blake Treinen (rib, late May) are among 11 players on the IL, per ESPN’s Alden González. Yet, starters like Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2.89 ERA) and Gavin Stone (3.45 ERA) have held the fort, and the bullpen’s 3.12 ERA (5th) remains elite. Miami’s 126 runs scored (29th) and .228 average (26th) make them a soft landing for Outman and Kim to shine.
Betts’ rest day is strategic but underscores the strain without Hernández. His 19.9% strikeout rate (career-low) and .294 xBA (88th percentile) mean he’ll be back swinging on May 8, likely in right field with Outman in center. Hernández’s absence could stretch Betts’ stamina—his 149 games played in 2024 led the team—and force Ohtani (.419 OBP) to carry more. The Dodgers’ plus-52 run differential (3rd in NL) and 6-4 record in one-run games show resilience, but a 3-4 stretch without Hernández in 2024 (groin tightness) hints at vulnerability. Kim’s versatility (2B, SS, OF) and Outman’s power (17.6% HR/FB rate in 2023) must deliver to avoid a dip.
The Marlins series is a chance to reset. With Edward Cabrera (5.28 ERA) slated for May 8, Betts should feast, and Ohtani’s 11.7% barrel rate could exploit Miami’s 27th-ranked bullpen (4.88 ERA). Long-term, Hernández’s return and Edman’s June comeback should stabilize the outfield, but the Dodgers’ 22-14 record—1.5 games ahead of San Diego—faces tests against Atlanta and San Francisco next. If Outman posts a .750 OPS and Kim maintains his .720 OBP vs. lefties, they could hold the fort. The injury bug’s biting, but Los Angeles’ depth and Ohtani’s MVP-caliber bat keep them in the driver’s seat. Betts will be back Wednesday, and with him, the Dodgers’ championship hopes stay alive. Hang tight, L.A.—this is just a bump in the marathon.
