Introduction to the Dodgers’ Season
The Dodgers season was going along just fine, with the pitching doing poorly and being injured. However, the Dodgers recently added a new wrinkle: the offense is now terrible too. The offense’s struggles can be attributed to several key players, including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernández, who have all stopped hitting. Max Muncy was also injured, leaving only Will Smith to consistently get key hits when needed.
July’s Hitting Performance
Looking at the team’s hitting performance in July, some notable statistics include:
- Alex Freeland: 1 for 2
- Will Smith: .349/.461/.587, 22 for 63, 3 doubles, 4 homers, 7 RBIs, 12 walks, 15 K’s
- Michael Conforto: .273/.342/.485, 18 for 66, 5 doubles, 3 homers, 7 RBIs, 6 walks, 15 K’s
- Freddie Freeman: .253/.327/.352, 23 for 91, 6 doubles, 1 homer, 13 RBIs, 9 walks, 32 K’s
- Miguel Rojas: .250/.361/.481, 13 for 52, 3 doubles, 3 homers, 5 RBIs, 9 walks, 9 K’s
- Andy Pages: .247/.299/.382, 22 for 89, 3 doubles, 3 homers, 9 RBIs, 6 walks, 26 K’s
- Teoscar Hernández: .232/.284/.362, 3 doubles, 2 homers, 11 RBIs, 5 walks, 20 K’s
- Mookie Betts: .205/.261/.325, 17 for 83, 4 doubles, 2 homers, 5 RBIs, 6 walks, 14 K’s
- Shohei Ohtani: .204/.321/.505, 19 for 93, 1 double, 9 homers, 19 RBIs, 16 walks, 32 K’s
- Hyeseong Kim: .193/.207/.211, 11 for 57, 1 double, 3 RBIs, 1 walk, 24 K’s
- Esteury Ruiz: .190/.261/.333, 4 for 21, 1 homer, 2 RBIs, 2 walks, 8 K’s
- Dalton Rushing: .179/.200/.214, 5 for 28, 1 double, 2 RBIs, 8 K’s
- Tommy Edman: .156/.239/.230, 2 homers, 6 RBIs, 5 walks, 15 K’s
- James Outman: .067/.176/.133, 1 for 15, 1 double, 1 walk, 5 K’s
- Max Muncy: 0 for 5
- Kiké Hernández: 0 for 9
- Team: .226/.302/.375, 31 doubles, 30 homers, 80 walks, 226 K’s, 3.79 runs per game
Team Rankings in July
The team’s rankings in July among the 30 MLB teams were:
- Batting average: 28th
- OB%: 27th
- SLG%: 25th
- Runs: 28th
They were last in doubles and triples, 15th in home runs.
August Performance
Things have picked up slightly in August, with Freeman hitting .458 with power, Ohtani hitting .400, and Teoscar hitting .250 with power. However, Mookie Betts is still not hitting, with a .174 average in August. The team is only 3-3 in August and 13-17 over their last 30 games.
Mookie Betts’ Struggles
Mookie Betts is having the worst season of his career, with an OPS+ of 88. His on-base percentage has been subpar for a full season now, which is a concern for a top-two hitter. Betts has said that his struggles started when he broke his left hand in June last season. Before the injury, Betts was hitting .304/.405/.488, but after the injury, he hit .263/.314/.497.
Moving Betts Down in the Order
Given Betts’ struggles, it may be time to move him down in the order. The Dodgers’ reasoning for moving Ohtani to the leadoff spot was to give their best hitter the most at-bats. However, with Betts’ current performance, it may be beneficial to move him down to the sixth or seventh spot. This could allow him to relax and potentially regain his form.
Notes
Some additional notes from the Dodgers:
- Ohtani got his 1,000th major league hit on Wednesday.
- Ohtani is on pace for 55 home runs this season, one more than he hit last year.
- Readers have asked why Ohtani is striking out so much, but his strikeout rate is only slightly higher than his career norms.
- Brock Stewart has given up two runs in 2-2/3 innings with the Dodgers.
- Roki Sasaki has a three-inning simulated game scheduled, after which he could go out on a minor-league rehab assignment.
Up Next
The Dodgers’ upcoming schedule includes:
- Friday: Toronto (Max Scherzer, 2-1, 4.39 ERA) at Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw, 5-2, 3.29 ERA), 7:10 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
- Saturday: Toronto (Chris Bassitt, 11-5, 4.12 ERA) at Dodgers (Blake Snell, 1-1, 3.21 ERA), 6:10 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
- Sunday: Toronto (Eric Lauer, 7-2, 2.59 ERA) at Dodgers (Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 10-7, 2.51 ERA) 1:10 p.m., Sportsnet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020
In Case You Missed It
Some additional articles and news from the Dodgers:
- Mookie Betts sounds depressed, but he isn’t giving up on snapping his hitting slump
- Things are finally turning around for Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki
- ‘They’ve got to perform better.’ Three Dodger stars who need to heat up at the plate
And Finally
In 2004, Adrian Beltré hit a go-ahead grand slam. Watch and listen here.
Until Next Time
Have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com, and follow me on Twitter at @latimeshouston. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.
Conclusion
The Dodgers’ offense has been struggling, and Mookie Betts’ performance has been a major concern. With his subpar on-base percentage and lack of power, it may be time to move him down in the order. The team’s upcoming schedule and performance will be crucial in determining their chances of making the postseason.
FAQs
Q: What is Mookie Betts’ current OPS+?
A: Mookie Betts’ current OPS+ is 88, which is the worst of his career.
Q: Why is Mookie Betts struggling?
A: Mookie Betts has said that his struggles started when he broke his left hand in June last season.
Q: Should Mookie Betts be moved down in the order?
A: Yes, given his subpar performance, it may be beneficial to move him down to the sixth or seventh spot to allow him to relax and potentially regain his form.
Q: What is the Dodgers’ upcoming schedule?
A: The Dodgers’ upcoming schedule includes games against the Toronto Blue Jays, with Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt, and Eric Lauer scheduled to start.
Q: How can I get this newsletter in my inbox?
A: To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here and follow the instructions.
