Mookie Betts was left out of the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox as the team kicked off their homestand. This decision came as Betts continues to battle a noticeable hitting slump affecting his overall production in the 2025 season.
Betts has experienced declines in key offensive statistics this year, with projected career lows looming in batting average (.249), on-base percentage (.327), and slugging percentage (.380) if current trends persist. Following the team’s off day on Monday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts opted to give Betts an additional rest day to allow mental and physical recovery.
Just a day off. To be quite honest, probably more of a mental day,
Roberts said.
I feel [Monday] was obviously a team off day, so to get back here, work on some things with his mechanics, watch a baseball game and be back in there tomorrow.
—Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
Evaluating Betts’ Offensive Challenges and Potential Improvements
The Dodgers boast the highest run-scoring offense in Major League Baseball this season, yet Betts’ individual contributions have dipped considerably. His weighted runs created plus (wRC+) stands at 99, marking the lowest level of his career and the first time below 131 since 2017. Manager Roberts acknowledged Betts is currently searching for solutions to snap his slump.
At times I see an uptick in at-bat quality and quality of contact, and then it sort of takes a downturn,
Roberts explained.
He’s in the middle of it. He’s trying to find some answers and some feels. So hopefully today is a day he can use to propel him through this homestand and beyond.
—Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
Kind of like Freddie, I just haven’t seen Mookie have this expanded period of not feeling good.
—Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
Despite Betts’ ability to swing at strikes, make contact, and avoid strikeouts, the quality and type of contact have been problematic. He is hitting fewer line drives, registering more weak contact, and seeing significant drops in solid contact and barrels, key metrics that influence hitting success.
These trends resemble Betts’ performance during 2021 and 2022, which were noticeable downturns in his career, but the severity has increased this season, limiting his overall hits and reducing his slugging percentage. Roberts admitted difficulty in identifying the root cause.
I don’t have an answer. It’s an interesting one, because I don’t think his misses are consistent,
Roberts admitted.
There’s more chase and then there’s some fly balls, some off the end of the bat, some ground balls. So I don’t know. I know the hitting guys are really working hard to try to figure out some answers. I do know he’s healthy. I think he’s stronger than he’s been in quite some time.
He’s an easy guy to bet on in knowing he’s going to turn it around.
—Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
Assessing Impact of Defensive Role on Betts’ Batting Performance
Since last season, speculation has surrounded whether Betts’ role as a shortstop might be contributing to his offensive slump. Although shifting to a demanding defensive position like shortstop could increase physical fatigue, the Dodgers believe this factor is unlikely the main cause of his hitting issues.
Roberts expressed doubts that playing different positions would result in significant changes in Betts’ offensive output.
I just can’t see if you stick him in right field tonight, he’s going to throw out two hits or three hits. Or he goes to second base, and he’s going to go on a heater,
Roberts stated.
That’s hard for me to imagine. It’s a fair ask, I just don’t see that as the case.
—Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
Additionally, Roberts emphasized his confidence in Betts’ ability to compartmentalize the defensive workload from his offensive approach, highlighting the veteran’s professionalism and mental strength in managing those responsibilities independently.
Looking Ahead: The Path Toward Mookie Betts’ Hitting Slump Recovery
The Dodgers are hopeful that the extra rest and continued focus on mechanical adjustments will help Betts break out of his offensive slump as the homestand progresses. Given his track record and physical conditioning, the team remains confident Betts will find his rhythm again.
With the offensive support of a potent lineup, the added rest day provides Betts the chance to recalibrate mentally and physically, aiming for a performance rebound vital not only for his personal statistics but also for the team‘s success during the critical midseason stretch.