Heading into October this year, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts looked to break out of a postseason slump that he has been mired in since 2021, but things have only worsened.
Betts is hitless in his last 22 postseason at-bats, with his last knock coming in Game 3 of the 2022 NLDS. He is also 3-for-44 since Game 4 of the 2021 NLCS.
The longest hitless streak in a single postseason belongs to Robinson Cano, who had an 0-for-29 hitless streak in 2012. The record for the longest hitless streak over multiple postseasons is held by Seattle Mariners catcher Dan Wilson, who went 0-for-41.
Betts’ hitting woes were only exacerbated Sunday night in Game 2 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres.
In the bottom of the first, Betts smoked a ball down the left field line that he thought got out for a home run, but Jurickson Profar caught the ball and deked out Betts and the entire stadium.
JURICKSON PROFAR ROBS MOOKIE!!! #NLDS pic.twitter.com/bvByqwsAKB
— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2024
According to The Athletic, Betts took an estimated 300-400 swings during team workouts on Monday at Petco Park. First, he took batting practice in the cage, then hit on the field before facing Brent Honeywell for live at-bats.
“The whole world knows, it’s not like it’s a secret,” Betts said about his struggles. “Nobody’s telling me anything I don’t know already. Nobody can be any harder on myself. Only thing I can really do is look forward but I know it’s there.”
Betts already had somewhat of a reputation for not coming through in the playoffs, even during his time with the Boston Red Sox. During the Red Sox playoff run in 2018, Betts only hit .210/.300/.323 with one home run in 14 games.
The Dodgers hope Betts returns to more of his 2020 form, in which he hit .296/.378/.493 in 18 games.
The Dodgers still have not given an update on Freddie Freeman after he was taken out of Game 2 with right ankle discomfort. If Freeman is out and Betts’ struggles continue, there will be two massive holes in the lineup behind Shohei Ohtani.
The Padres will have Michael King starting Game 3. Betts is 2-for-10 in his career against King, but those two hits were home runs.
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