Despite leading the National League West and boasting one of baseball’s most productive offenses, the Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves grappling with an unexpected issue: a prolonged slump from one of their brightest stars, Mookie Betts.
Mookie Betts Benched In Game 2 Of Milwaukee Series Due To Offensive Slump
The All-Star shortstop, a central figure in the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series run, was benched Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers — not due to injury, but in what manager Dave Roberts called a “mental day.”
“He was more than willing and wanted to be out there,” Roberts said. “But for me, I wanted to take it out of his hands [so he could] have a day… to just watch a baseball game.” Roberts explained that even though the All-Star break had just ended, watching from the dugout offers a different mental reset than being at home.
Betts’ recent struggles are glaring. Over his last 30 games, he’s hitting just .178 with a .506 OPS, two home runs, and 12 RBIs. Since July began, the numbers have worsened—Betts is 3-for-28 (.107) over his last seven games and hitless in his last three. His season slash line has dipped to .241/.311/.377, with an OPS+ of 95—well below his career norms.
But the signs of trouble go beyond just the box score. Betts’ average exit velocity has plummeted to 88.5 mph (29th percentile), a sharp decline from his 2023 figure that ranked in the 94th percentile. Though he remains elite defensively and in plate discipline—his strikeout rate is still an elite 11.1%—his offensive impact has clearly waned.
Dodgers’ Offense Keeping Team Well Above Water
What makes Betts’ prolonged slump particularly troubling is how essential the Dodgers’ offense has been in masking the team’s underlying weaknesses. With a pitching staff that ranks just 23rd in ERA (4.29) and continues to battle injuries, Los Angeles has had to lean heavily on its bats to stay afloat.
And to their credit, the lineup has largely delivered — tied for second in batting average, third in expected batting average, and second in both hits and home runs. Their .471 expected slugging percentage ranks second in the league, a testament to the depth and firepower of the group.
But for an offense so integral to the team’s success, the continued absence of Betts’ usual production puts that balance at risk. Simply put: the Dodgers need Betts to be himself again if they plan to maintain their lead atop the NL West and make another deep postseason run.
This season has also seen Betts battle unusual off-field challenges. A mysterious illness in spring training caused him to lose 25 pounds and miss the season opener. More recently, he fractured a toe in an off-field incident.
Roberts Considers Betts Day-to-Day
Even with these struggles, Roberts remains committed to Betts, but left open the possibility that his absence could extend. “It’s going to be a day-to-day thing,” Roberts said. “It’s going to be my decision on how I feel he is mentally to take on that night’s starter.”
Still, for the Dodgers to repeat as champions, they’ll need their superstar to look like one again. For now, Betts is considered day-to-day, and the team is left hoping a different view of the game might bring him back to form.
The Dodgers are set to take on the Brewers in the series finale at 1:10 pm PT on Sunday afternoon. The Brewers swept LA in their three game series shortly before the All-Star break and have lost both games of this series as well. They have lost nine of the last 11 games they have played