Mookie Betts grounded out in his first plate appearance since March 9 when his Dodgers concluded spring training play and the Freeway Series by facing the Angels Tuesday evening at Angel Stadium.
The Dodger shortstop had been sidelined by an undiagnosed illness. He told reporters Sunday that he had lost 18 pounds in the span of two weeks, been throwing up every time he ate solid foods and could tolerate only liquids, such as smoothies.
Betts accompanied the team to Japan but returned to California before the first of two games against the Chicago Cubs to get more time to rebuild strength in a familiar environment, manager Dave Roberts told reporters in Tokyo.
Before Monday’s 5-4 exhibition loss to the Angels at Angel Stadium, Roberts said he thought Betts had “turned a corner.”
The Angels announced Monday that right-hander Jack Kochanowicz, Tuesday’s starter, would be their fifth starter. Kochanowicz went into Tuesday’s game with a 1-1 record and a 2.92 ERA in 12 1/3 innings in four spring training appearances.
Kochanowicz was chosen by the Angels in the third round of the 2019 draft and made his major league debut last July 11. He was 2-6 with a 3.99 ERA in 11 starts.
The Angels announced Tuesday they had released outfielder Mickey Moniak, who hit .219 with 14 home runs and 49 RBIs in 124 games last season.
Moniak was the first player chosen in the 2016 draft, reached the majors in 2020 and was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Angels in 2022 with minor league outfielder Jadiel Sanchez in exchange for pitcher Noah Syndergaard.
The reigning World Series champion Dodgers will play their regular season home opener Thursday against the Detroit Tigers.
The Angels will open the regular season Thursday in Chicago against the White Sox and play their home opener April 4 against the Cleveland Guardians.