LOS ANGELES – Manager Dave Roberts did not bring the struggling Dave Roberts to the roster, but instead hopes that hitting the top will help the starting shortstop return to the set.
Betts led the Dodgers in a 6-5 loss to the winemakers Sunday afternoon, with his first start on an order since June 16, 2024. Shoheiohtani has been the leading batsman in Los Angeles, besides that, in addition to two games missed on the paternity roster earlier this year.
In an encouraging early return to the encouraging new 1-2 configuration, Betes beat the middle with two explosions in the third inning. Only 11 of Ohtani's 34 home runs this season are runners from the base.
Roberts is expected to use Betts to break out of the lead before third baseman Max Munchy returns from a left knee bruise, which the Dodgers manager says could be “a few weeks” and that could be “a few weeks.”
“To the left and to the right, I'm going to hit Muki for the time being,” Roberts said. “Hope it will make itself the foundation and build the inning mentality.”
Bets entered Sunday's .241 with a .688 operation. Roberts takes a day off on Saturday as a chance to reset, and Betts usually does a lot of defensive drills before the game and then hours of work before the game.
It wasn't a typical season for Bates, who lost 18 pounds due to stomach problems at the end of spring training and broke one of his left toes a few months later. He also played a full season in shortstop for the first time in his major league career.
But Bett repeatedly insists that none of these factors are the root cause of his extension on the plate.
“There is no external reason,” he said.
Instead of looking for an explanation, Bates digs out how to work with his body at this stage of his career. He is looking for new tips to help him push the swing in the right direction, as the trustworthy and real methods he used before are not clicking for him now.
“What I've done before will get me back on track and just don't work anymore, so it's hard,” Bates said. “Get inspiration from new experiences, new tips, new things. Try to find the right answer.”
The Dodgers' overall roster has been declining since Munchy made it to the injury list on July 3. Ohtani is no exception, but overall, he is productive at the leading location. By Sunday, the Dodgers' .991 OPS led the way from the top spot in the roster, with a Grand Slam, 80 points higher than the second-best D defender (.907).
Tommy Edman fills Ohtani on the parent-child roster, the only dodger to start at the lead this season.
While Betts downplays the role external factors play in his season-long downturn, Roberts is optimistic that the lineup’s reshuffle will help shortstops take the Bat with a better mindset.
“With hitting, it's so nuanced that there's not always a hint to get the batsman back to normal,” Roberts said. “But I personally do feel that the outer part – hitting the top of the order, having a mindset to rely on the foundation – I think it will help move that better.” ”
During the course of decorating a 12-year career, Bates hasn't experienced these long struggles on the plate. At this point, he is trying to get rid of unprecedented territory.
“It's a process I've never gone through, so I don't have any answers. I don't know how to solve it. I don't know.” “I'm working every day. Hope it becomes.”