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Mookie Betts will play short, bat second for Dodgers when he returns

When Mookie Betts makes his long-awaited return from a left-hand fracture in Milwaukee next week, it will be in one position that has become relatively familiar to the eight-time All-Star and another that will be relatively new.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Betts will remain at shortstop, the spot he moved to in early March because of Gavin Lux’s throwing woes but hadn’t played full time since high school, ending speculation that the six-time Gold Glove Award-winning right fielder could return to the outfield.

But Roberts said Betts, who made all 72 of his starts this season in the leadoff spot, will be moved to the second spot in the order so dynamic slugger Shohei Ohtani can remain in the leadoff spot and the left-handed bats of Ohtani and No.