Injuries have practically become the most selling headline of this MLB season. No team’s been spared, especially not the Dodgers or the Mets. But as these two powerhouses clash this week, off the field, away from the usual rivalry and tension, two stars sat down, not to trade jabs, but to share stories.

When the conversation turned to injuries, Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts had a fresh wound to unpack. Then, Mets first baseman Pete Alonso reached the memory vault and brought up a bizarre incident that was anything but forgettable.

Remember when Betts was pulled from the lineup just before the World Series rematch against the Yankees due to a fractured toe? Blame dimly lit rooms. It turns out he stubbed it on the way to the bathroom at home in the dark. Betts recalled the incident on his show, On Base podcast, and advised viewers, “You should always use a flashlight when you’re walking in the dark.”

After this, the Mets star, who joined him on the show, couldn’t help but share one of his own injury stories.

Alonso went almost a decade back in memory, to 2015, when he hurt his nose and had to wear a softball mask for the rest of the season. “Hits off home plate, comes up, bashes me in the nose, and I have to wear a softball helmet for the rest of the year. And also, I gotta wear the softball pitcher’s mask, and I’m like catching pop-ups, I had to take the mask off.”

Want to check Alonso at the time? You can surf the internet. But for Alonso, it was definitely not a delightful memory. “I raked with it, but it was like a cone of shame, you know, like when a dog has like…” Betts couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

This happened way back when Alonso was in his sophomore year, preparing for a match. Self-fielding machines are usually a great help to players, but that day, for Alonso, it threw a sinker from hell. While trying to foul off a cut softball from the hopper machine, which was about to hit him, he never imagined it would bounce off the home plate. That’s how he ended up stuck with the softball mask.

Even though it sounds hilarious, injuries are never risk-free, and players battle that risk every single day. Look at how something as minor as stubbing a toe sidelined Betts, and the team had to find a replacement for him. Yes, unfortunately, it’s not just the players who suffer; the whole team does too.

Betts returned after missing four games on Tuesday for the second match against the Mets and went 2-for-5. The Dodgers won that game 6-5, but the very next day, Alonso made sure the Dodgers had a tough night.

Pete Alonso’s power surge signals he’s back

Alonso put on a show at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night. As the Mets took home the third game 6-1, Alonso had one of his best nights of the season. He went 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs.

After a stellar start to the season, he had lost his rhythm in May. But after Wednesday night, fans have solid proof that he’s finally back. And Carlos Mendoza agrees.

“Early in the season, he wasn’t missing pitches. He wasn’t chasing,” Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza told AMNY’s Joe Pantorno after the game. “Then he went into a stretch where they made him chase. Now, he’s back to that hitter we saw at the beginning, and when he’s doing that, he’s pretty dangerous.” Well, he is dangerous now, no argument there! The Dodgers would definitely agree.

Alonso began the season’s first 36 games batting .349 with a 1.143 OPS, nine home runs, and 33 RBIs. He was on fire. But come May, it seemed like he went into a kind of hibernation state. His spark was nowhere to be seen. Over the next 24 games, he hit just .194 with a .597 OPS, three home runs, and 13 RBIs. That was disappointing, no doubt, especially when he had a promising start.

But as it turns out, there’s no need to worry now. As Alonso himself puts it, “I just feel consistent.” Two homers and five RBIs are a clear sign of that. And if he keeps this up, it won’t be easy for the Mets to let him walk this winter.