Dodgers Star Gives 4-Word Response Regarding Recent Struggles

Newsweek

4 days ago

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The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the coldest teams in baseball.
Entering Monday, the Dodgers had lost 10 of their last 12 games and have seen their division lead decrease to just 3 1/2 games over the San Diego Padres.
Several key contributors have been struggling for Los Angeles, but none have been worse than the struggles from superstar shortstop Mookie Betts.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 09: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up before a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on July 09, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 09: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up before a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on July 09, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Betts spoke to the media Sunday after the Dodgers' 6-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers and gave a brief response when asked what needed to change to help get himself and Los Angeles out of its current funk.
"Just gotta play better," Betts told reporters, via a video on X from SportsNet LA. "I can't speak for everyone else, but personally I just have to play better."
Betts certainly does need to play better, as he is headed toward the worst full season of his Hall of Fame level career in the major leagues.
He is batting just .240 on the season and over the last 15 days, he has a slash line of .162/.200/.182. He has no home runs, one double and just one RBI in that 15-day stretch, easily some of his worst numbers over any 15-day stretch of his career.
Mookie Betts in his last 30 games entering today: .178/.227/.280.
The Dodgers moved him into the leadoff spot today to try and shake things up.
Betts struck out swinging on three pitches in his first at-bat. — Kyle Glaser (@KyleAGlaser) July 20, 2025
Betts has never finished a season with an average under .250 and has finished under .265 just twice in his career (2017, 2021).
Manager Dave Roberts decided to move Betts to the leadoff spot for the first time since June of last season in hopes of taking some pressure off Betts having to succeed between Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith in the lineup.
It is unclear if that will be successful and if it is not, the Dodgers will have to make a tough decision regarding Betts' positioning in the lineup when the postseason rolls around.
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