Dodgers Rest Mookie Betts During Extended Slump for Recovery

Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts is enduring one of the most challenging seasons of his career. Amid a prolonged slump and visible frustration on the field, manager Dave Roberts has given Betts at least one day off to recalibrate both mentally and physically.

This blog post takes a closer look at Betts’ struggles and what might be causing them. The Dodgers are doing what they can to help their eight-time All-Star rediscover his form.

Mookie Betts’ Slump: Unprecedented Struggles for a Star

Once a perennial All-Star and anchor for the Dodgers’ lineup, Betts is battling a career-low season in 2023. He’s slashing just .241/.311/.377 through 395 plate appearances—a sharp drop from the level fans are used to seeing.

Currently, he’s mired in an 0-for-12 slump and showing real frustration at the plate. That’s what led manager Dave Roberts to give his star a break.

Roberts called the decision “day-to-day,” pointing to Betts’ mental readiness as the main factor in when he’ll return. Maybe it’ll be just one day off, maybe more. They’re playing it by ear.

Poor Results Against Tough Opponents

Betts’ offensive struggles have been even more obvious against tough pitching staffs. The timing of his current slump isn’t helping.

The Dodgers are facing the Milwaukee Brewers, who have arms like All-Star Freddy Peralta and Jose Quintana. Betts has never really hit those guys well, which just adds to his current issues at the plate.

Digging Into the Root Causes of the Slump

Betts’ slump is puzzling not just because of how deep it is, but also because of the weird mix of things causing it. There’s no single explanation, but a few factors stand out:

• Chasing Pitches Outside the Zone: Betts has been swinging at pitches outside the strike zone, trying to force his way out of the slump. That’s not like him—usually, he’s one of the most disciplined hitters around.
• Position Change to Shortstop: Taking on a full-time shortstop role this year means more responsibility. Sure, Betts is athletic enough to handle it, but the switch might be messing with his offense.
• An Early Stomach Illness: Early in the season, Betts got hit with a pretty bad stomach illness and lost 20 pounds. That’s a lot, and it threw off his swing mechanics. He’s still trying to get his rhythm back.

Missed All-Star Game Reflects Decline

For the first time in four years (excluding the shortened 2020 season), Betts didn’t make the All-Star Game. That kind of says it all about how rough this year’s been for him.

Still, Betts didn’t just sit around during the break. He apparently spent time in Nashville working on his swing, hoping some focused effort would help him bounce back in the second half.

The Dodgers’ Plan: Staying the Course

The Dodgers aren’t panicking. Roberts says he’s not moving Betts from the No. 2 spot in the lineup or shifting him back to the outfield.

They’re sticking with him and letting him fight through it. The message? Trust Betts to figure it out instead of scrambling to make changes in the middle of the season.

Betts’ Own Perspective

Mookie Betts has always been honest about how he’s playing, and this year’s no exception. “I’ve never been this bad for this long,” Betts admitted.

That says a lot about how frustrated he is, and how much of this is about confidence and rhythm—not just mechanics. You can almost feel the weight on his shoulders.

What’s Next for Betts and the Dodgers?

The Dodgers are deep in their playoff push. Getting Mookie Betts back on track feels absolutely critical right now.

They’re still one of the most dangerous teams in baseball. But let’s be honest—Betts at his best? That takes Los Angeles to another level.

People are watching to see how Betts responds after this short reset. Can he find that spark again and get back to the elite production we’ve all come to expect?

Betts has faced tough stretches before. If anyone can break through a slump like this, it’s probably him.

Now, the second half of the season will show if a mental reset and a few tweaks can help Betts flip the script. Maybe that’ll change the Dodgers’ entire postseason outlook too. Who knows?

 
Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers give Mookie Betts day off, maybe 2, amid season-long slump: ‘I’ve never been this bad for this long’