Mookie Betts Is Finding His Form Just in Time for the Dodgers

Carrying It on Both Sides of the Ball

What makes Betts’ resurgence even more impressive is that it has come while he’s shouldering the daily grind of playing shortstop, which is a position he played plenty of last year but didn’t become a full-time fixture at until this year.

The defensive metrics say he’s thrived, and he has looked the part too. He’s helped credit the Dodgers’ shortstop position with +15 Defensive Runs Saved, one of the top totals at any position in baseball. Per Baseball Savant, he ranks in the 87th percentile in fielding range and 74th percentile in fielding run value.

In short, Betts has stabilized the most demanding position on the diamond while also rediscovering his offensive rhythm.

Under the Hood

Statcast data reinforces that Betts’ rebound is more than just a hot streak. His expected batting average sits at .277 (77th percentile), suggesting his true level of contact has been better than his early-season results. He also ranks in the 100th percentile in squared-up rate, 80th in launch angle sweet-spot percentage, 84th in chase rate, 90th in whiff rate, and 98th in strikeout rate.

He’s putting the bat on the ball at an elite level, like always, making smart swing decisions and limiting empty at-bats.

Pitch-type splits help explain the story of his uneven season. He has crushed offspeed pitches (.321 AVG, .509 SLG), struggled more than usual against breaking balls (.197 AVG), and has been due for positive regression against fastballs, where his expected slugging percentage is 69 points higher than his actual mark. That gap suggests even more production could be coming as the season winds down.

From Fatigue to Fight

Looking back, the first half of Betts’ season feels explainable. His illness and weight loss in March left him without his usual strength, and playing shortstop every day likely compounded the mental and physical fatigue he has not been accustomed to for the majority of his big-league career. By late June, he was on pace for his worst offensive campaign, slugging just .394 with nine home runs through 284 at-bats.

And yet, even then, he found ways to contribute. His glove rated among the best in the game, and his plate discipline remained intact. His value never disappeared completely. But what makes Betts different is his ability to find another gear when it matters most.

A Timely Resurgence for L.A.

For the Dodgers, Betts’ resurgence could not come at a better time. With a small lead in the NL West and sitting four-plus games behind the Phillies and Brewers for a first-round bye, Mookie’s spark has breathed life back into a Dodgers team that has appeared unmotivated for chunks of the season. 

Over the last month, Betts has looked once again like the player who’s collected an MVP, eight All-Star nods, and three World Series rings. He’s getting on base, driving the ball with authority, and continuing to anchor the middle of the Dodgers’ defense.

If he maintains this version of himself into October, the Dodgers’ lineup becomes exponentially more dangerous. A healthy and locked-in Betts lengthens the order, gives the team a dangerous No. 2 hitter behind Shohei Ohtani, and provides the kind of postseason-tested bat every contender needs.