Mookie Betts’ season has been a roller coaster that would test any organization’s patience. The man wearing No. 50 for the Los Angeles Dodgers is hitting a career-worst .250 during the 2025 MLB season, a stunning decline from his typically elite production.

Between late June and mid-July, Betts endured a harrowing stretch, batting just .183 over 30 games, with a meager .513 OPS in that span. Around late July, he hit a dangerous low, hitting just .148 with an OPS of .411 over a 14-game stretch.

Amid a down year at the plate, Betts has lately begun to look much more like himself since shifting his focus from trying to turn his season around to simply ending it on a high note.

Jim Duquette’s analysis reveals why the Dodgers remain bullish on their star shortstop. “Night and day – 18 games, .356/.415/.507. So it’s 18 games. I understand it’s a very small sample, but this is more along the lines of what we’ve seen from him,” Duquette explained.

He emphasized Betts’ track record of mid-season adjustments, noting how crucial depth will be for October success. “They’re going to get Max Muncy back. It helps that Will Smith is having an incredible year. Chalk this one up to – we’re not talking enough about the year that Will Smith is having,” Duquette observed, highlighting the supporting cast that takes pressure off Betts.

The Betts saga traces back to a brutal start that would have broken lesser players’ confidence. At the onset of the 2025 campaign, Betts endured a stomach illness that caused him to lose nearly 20 pounds, followed by a bizarre toe injury from an off-the-field incident that kept him out of key games.

Through it all, Roberts maintained his faith, recently declaring, “I wouldn’t say frustrating for me. Certainly frustrating for the player,” while refusing to drop Betts in the batting order.

The Dodgers’ commitment to Betts represents just one piece of their complex championship puzzle. As they prepare for another October run, roster decisions beyond their superstar outfielder demand equal attention.

Dodgers’ Muncy’s future adds championship complexity

While Betts emerges from his struggles stronger than ever, another veteran cornerstone faces questions that could reshape the Los Angeles Dodgers’ championship window. Max Muncy celebrated his 35th birthday on Monday, hitting that dreaded age threshold where third basemen typically watch their defensive abilities fade. Unlike most aging players who can shift positions, Muncy finds himself boxed in with Freddie Freeman anchored at first base and Shohei Ohtani owning the designated hitter role.

The clock ticks louder with that $10 million club option decision approaching fast. Yet MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reads the situation differently, expressing confidence about Muncy’s return despite the mounting concerns. His analysis centers on Muncy’s remarkable recovery from early-season struggles that had fans worried about decline.

“Knee and oblique injuries have limited Muncy to 89 games this season, but the third baseman has been superb since starting the season with a poor April, hitting 17 home runs with 64 RBIs and an .880 OPS,” Feinsand wrote in his recent evaluation. The veteran reporter added another crucial detail: “Muncy has said he wants to retire as a Dodger, and while that’s still far from a certainty, it seems likely that he will be back in 2026.”

The reality check comes with Muncy’s absence since August 12 due to oblique injury. Health concerns multiply at 35, especially after managing just 89 games this year. Fortunately, the Los Angeles Dodgers built impressive infield depth to weather these storms. When Muncy takes the field healthy, he still transforms their entire offensive approach. That game-changing impact should secure his spot in Dodger Blue for another championship chase.