Dodgers' Mookie Betts Decision Pays Instant Dividends

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated May 26, 2026 10:47 PM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers star shortstop Mookie Betts has struggled through the first two months of the 2026 Major League Baseball season. Heading into Tuesday's matchup against the Colorado Rockies, Betts had a slash line of .165/.230/.342 with an OPS of .572, totaling four home runs and 10 RBIs in 20 games.

Betts missed five weeks earlier in the season due to a strained right oblique. Since returning from that injury on May 11, he had put up just eight hits in 51 at-bats.

On Tuesday, in an effort to get Betts out of his slump, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts moved Betts down in the batting order to the cleanup spot.

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) against the San Francisco Giants.© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

This was the 57th time in Betts' career that he had batted in the four-spot and the first time since 2017, when he was on the Boston Red Sox. Betts had seen success in those previous appearances in this spot in the order, as he batted .309 with seven homers and 40 RBIs in those 56 games.

Roberts' decision to move Betts to the cleanup spot on Tuesday paid off instantly, as he launched a two-run home run in the top of the first inning to give Los Angeles an early lead.

"Mookie Betts homers out of the cleanup spot in the @Dodgers order!" MLB said on X.

Mookie Betts homers out of the cleanup spot in the @Dodgers order! pic.twitter.com/O2Yzjkbsr2
— MLB (@MLB) May 27, 2026

This long ball from Betts was his first home run in 10 days and just his fifth all season. While this may have initially been a temporary decision from Roberts to help Betts break out of his slump, the Dodgers shortstop may be right where he should be in the order.

Thanks to Betts' homer in the opening frame, the Dodgers led the Rockies 2-1 through the first two innings.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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