At a recent Dodgers practice, the familiar sight of Mookie Betts endlessly swinging in the cages played out under the fading California sun. To any onlooker, Betts’ work ethic seemed as fierce as ever. But beneath that relentless drive lies a growing strain, one that’s beginning to affect not just Betts himself, but the Dodgers’ lineup, especially two of their biggest stars: Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.

Alden González, who closely follows the Dodgers, recently shed light on the pressure Betts is under. Mookie is pushing himself too hard, trying to master shortstop at an age when most players aren’t taking on a new position, González explained on the Mud Birds podcast. Betts hasn’t seriously played shortstop since his early minor league days, yet here he is, anchoring a critical spot in the infield. With Betts batting right between Ohtani and Freeman, his struggles don’t just hit his own stats; they disrupt the rhythm of the entire offense.

“He drives himself crazy when he’s in a slump,” a source close to Betts told Buster Olney. The fire that once drove him to be great is now in danger of consuming him. Mookie Betts is still hitting the ball well. But the power and consistency that made him a force are gone. Some speculate that all the mental and physical energy he’s putting into changing his game is taking a toll on his offense. Others point to an illness early in the season that made him lose a lot of weight and may have unsettled his swing mechanics.

The Dodgers are in a spot. They need to figure out how to keep their star players, like Betts and Ohtani, from burning out. Finding that spot, between playing time and rest, could be what they need to get their offense going again. If they can get this right, it might just make all the difference.

Dave Roberts’ unshaken faith amid Mookie Betts’ slump

Mookie Betts’ slump has sparked conversations around the Dodgers’ lineup, with some wondering if the team should drop their star further down the order. Yet, manager Dave Roberts remains calm, refusing uncertainty to take over his belief. “The more I think about it, Mookie is somebody I’m not going to hit lower in the order,” Roberts said. His conviction signals more than loyalty; it’s a strategic vote of confidence that Betts is still the best option near the top of the lineup.

Roberts acknowledges the questions but frames Betts’ struggles as an “extended funk” rather than a permanent decline. “This guy is a premium player, and he’s just in this extended funk. But he’s going to work his way out of this,” Roberts assured. He sees Betts as integral to the Dodgers’ success and insists that the best version of their ballclub features Betts batting at or near the top. That kind of unwavering support is rare and speaks volumes about Roberts’ trust in his player.

Even with the lineup shuffle, Mookie Betts briefly moves from second to first and back, and Roberts refuses to lose faith. “For me, it’s not giving him any out. It’s appreciating he’s the best option we have at the top, near the top. If that’s not confidence from a manager to a player, I don’t know what is, when you’re scuffling and you’re going through it, that I’m not going to waver,” Roberts said. His plea is simple yet powerful: “I want you to have as much confidence in yourself as I do. And it’ll turn.” It’s a bold message that might just be the spark Betts needs to regain his form.