The Los Angeles Dodgers started Mookie Betts at second base on Thursday night with a playoff berth firmly in hand.

Betts played the position to prepare for an emergency situation in October.

Usually L.A.'s starting right fielder, Betts came up as a middle infielder. He had only played the outfield in his Major League career.

"For me nothing is off the table, especially when a player like Mookie is open to it," Dave Roberts said. "And so I just felt like this was a good opportunity for him to log some innings, get the feel of it and see what he thinks."

Roberts said Betts takes ground balls in the infield on a daily basis. A couple of weeks ago, the two talked about the unforeseen circumstances in a short playoff series that might prompt Roberts to pinch hit one of his outfielders in the early innings and might force Betts to play second base.