Mookie Betts continues to struggle during the 2025 season as he is currently in the midst of the worst year of his future Hall of Fame career.
Betts is hitting just .231/.302/.355 across 103 games, and things have been even worse since the start of July. Entering play on Tuesday, Betts has been the eighth-worst qualified hitter in MLB, batting .211/.270/.309 with a 59 wRC+.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts moved him to the leadoff spot in an attempt to spark the 32-year-old, but he only batted .190/.271/.238 in 10 games before being moved back down to hitting second.
Roberts said he would consider dropping Betts further in the lineup once Max Muncy returned, but he has decided against that.
“The more I think about it, Mookie is somebody I’m not going to hit lower in the order,” Roberts said. “I just feel you weight the options, the alternatives and things like that, I’m going to continue to believe in him and trust that he’s the best option whether it’s in the one or the two, and that’s what we’re going to roll with.
“So I think the questions are far as far as moving him down and things like that, but this guy is a premium player and he’s just in this extended funk. But he’s going to work his way out of this. I just feel the best version of our ballclub is him somewhere at the top of the order.”
The Dodgers have better options to bat second right now, namely Will Smith, who has been a top-four hitter in MLB this season. The Dodgers would optimize their lineup to its best look by having Ohtani and Smith giving them the most at-bats.
But Roberts shot that idea down due to Smith not seeing as much playing time as other everyday players.
“You’ve got to think of the alternatives,” Roberts said. “How guys are swinging right now and the way I look at our lineup and the way guys are swinging, there’s no better alternative.
“Also, given that Will Smith doesn’t play every day, so you’re trying to not mix and match the top of the order when the catcher players three out of four, or whatever it is. So that’s kind of the math.
“It’s very clear to me there’s always suggestions and thoughts, but if you don’t have a better alternative, then it falls on deaf ears. Or my deaf ears.”
However, nearly anyone on the roster would be a better option at the moment. Only Dalton Rushing has been less productive than Betts this year.
Freddie Freeman and Muncy could both excel batting second, but if Roberts does not want back-to-back lefties, Andy Pages could fill that role.
It still makes the most sense to have Smith there and fill-in the spot on his days off, but Roberts seems to not want to further lower Betts’ confidence.
Freddie Freeman calls on Dodgers hitters to improve
Since the start of July, the Dodgers rank 28th in OPS, and it’s resulted in the third-fewest runs in that stretch as one of three teams yet to reach 100 runs scored since then.
Despite the offensive issues, the Dodgers remained mostly quiet at the trade deadline, adding only Alex Call — a quality fourth outfielder — to their group of position players. The front office is making a bet on the talent level the group has to turn things around, which would be better than any trade the Dodgers could have made.
It’s a belief that resonates with Freeman.
“I think five or six months ago in Spring Training, we were talking about how great of a team we have,” he said. “We still have that great of a team. Obviously some of us haven’t played as well, so it’s on us to get going. A few of us are getting going right now, and I think we’re going to be just fine going forward.”
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