Mookie Betts appeared to regain his rhythm early in June, batting .400 across his first seven games, offering hope that his offensive production was back on track. However, since then, he and teammate Freddie Freeman have both underperformed at the top of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup, with Betts facing an extended slump despite the team maintaining overall success.
In the Dodgers’ 9-7 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, Betts managed two hits, yet his recent performance remains inconsistent. Over his last 13 games, he is batting .184 with an on-base percentage of .273 and a slugging percentage of .245. His slugging has not risen above .400 since June 17, and his current .257 batting average and .339 on-base percentage have stalled at similar marks to those recorded after his first game in June.
Manager Dave Roberts Stands Behind Betts’ Role and Recovery
Despite the slump, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has no plans to move Betts down the lineup, expressing confidence that the star outfielder will soon rediscover his form. Roberts attributes some of Betts’ difficulties to factors like pitch selection and mechanical challenges in controlling the bat’s barrel during swings.
“I think some of it is pitch selection,” Roberts said. “Some of it is mechanics where you just don’t know where the barrel is. But again, things with hitting can change in an at-bat. You take one at-bat and something clicks and this conversation is no longer. There’s a lot of different variables that lead to not consistently finding the barrel.” —Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
Michael Conforto’s Recent Improvement Offers Optimism
Opposite Betts in the Dodgers’ lineup, Michael Conforto has begun to show signs of offensive revival. In his last two games, Conforto recorded two extra-base hits, including a crucial three-run home run against the Rockies that helped secure the win. This budding momentum is being closely watched by team management and fans alike.
Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations, acknowledged Conforto’s early-season struggles but remains upbeat about his potential for a strong second half of the campaign.
“To date, obviously, Michael hasn’t performed up to what he expected or we expected,” Friedman said. “But, watching the way he is working, watching the progress being made, I would bet that his next two months are way better than his last two months.” —Andrew Friedman, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations
Additional Team News: Robert Suárez’s Suspension Reduced
In other developments related to the broader baseball environment, Robert Suárez of the San Diego Padres successfully appealed his suspension, which was cut from three games to two following an incident involving Shohei Ohtani. Suárez had been disciplined after hitting Ohtani during the ninth inning of a recent game but maintained that there was no intent to hit the star hitter.
Outlook for the Dodgers and Betts’ Role Moving Forward
Mookie Betts’ ongoing slump presents a challenge for the Dodgers, but the team‘s leadership continues to support him, anticipating a turnaround as his swing mechanics and pitch recognition improve. Meanwhile, Michael Conforto’s recent surge offers a positive boost for the lineup’s middle section. Maintaining patience and confidence in these key players could prove vital for the Dodgers as they push deeper into the season amid stiff competition in the National League.