LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts took an important step -- literally -- ahead of Sunday's series finale against the Yankees: He was able to wear closed-toed shoes for the first time since fracturing the tip of one of his left toes earlier that week.
It's one of those everyday things that gets taken for granted, but it was an encouraging sign for Betts, who stubbed the fourth toe on his left foot while walking to the bathroom in the dark at his home on Wednesday night.
"Whatever you picture, getting out of bed, that's exactly what happened. We all have done it," Betts said Sunday. "I just so happened to fracture a toe. I'm sure we all have some fractured toes from stuff like this."
Although Betts had to sit out the weekend's three-game set against the Yankees and Monday's opener vs. the Mets, he was back in the starting lineup on Tuesday.
For Betts, the short term will be more about pain tolerance. He'll have to manage the injury going forward, but he's been able to get through his full pregame work without issue.
"Unfortunately, it's kind of on the end of the toe, so it's per tolerance, as we've talked about," manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday. "But I would assume that over the course of days and weeks, it'll kind of heal itself."