Struggling Offense: Recent Slump of Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman for the Dodgers at the Plate
LOOKING AT L.A.'S SLUGGING STARS
Denver - As the Dodgers concluded a remarkable three-game sweep over the Colorado Rockies, a pair of their heavy-hitting legends played a pivotal role. The sixth inning on Thursday saw Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman deliver a much-needed spark.
In a closely contested game, Betts opened the inning with a majestic double, while Freeman followed with a line-drive single that brought Betts home, giving the Dodgers a lead they wouldn't relinquish. The victorious series kept them tied for the best record in the MLB.
Yet, despite the spectacular heroics on Thursday, Betts and Freeman's recent performances have shown an unusual stark drop in prowess. Over the past few weeks, Betts' batting average has plummeted to .191, with only one home run and eight RBIs, bringing down his overall season performance to just above league average.
Freeman, on the other hand, has experienced an even more aggressive downturn, with a wretched .160 average that is the lowest of any single-season, 20-game stretch in his entire career. These contrasting performances have raised concerns that these formidable hitters have lost their midas touch.
These coinciding struggles have led manager Dave Roberts to remain upbeat but acknowledges the concerns may be justified. He highlighted that the duo's lack of power is a significant factor in their recent struggles. Betts is currently batting below his career-low slugging percentage, while Freeman isn't faring much better, slipping to the 8th percentile among MLB hitters in exit velocity, barely managing to keep his hard-hit percentage above the league average.
The Shadow of Past Glories
It wasn't long ago that Betts and Freeman were riding a wave of impressive offensive performances. After laboring through a slow, physically hampered start, Betts began to heat up, bringing his typical levels of production back into focus. Despite an initial .230 batting average and a subpar OPS below .700 in late April, consistently solid play since late April has propelled him back on track.
Freeman, too, had put his right ankle surgery and re-aggravation behind him, seemingly primed for an excellent season. At the end of May, he was topping the National League with a remarkable .374 batting average. But recent dips in performance have seen his batting average drop to .309, and his promising campaign seems to have taken a turn for the worse.
While external worries continue to swirl, both Betts and Freeman recognize the gravity of the situation.
"I've been frustrated for about six weeks now," Freeman shared.
Addressing the same concerns, Betts admits that, despite his best efforts to understand, he continues to experience frustration, saying, "If I knew [what was wrong]... I promise you I wouldn't keep doing it."
A Team Built on Thriving Talent
Despite Betts and Freeman's current struggles, the Dodgers have managed to shore up their victories with robust performances from other key players. The offense has been averaging more than six runs per game over their last 17 matches, outperforming even their season's already impressive average. Players like current NL batting leader Will Smith, June player of the month candidate Max Muncy, and rising star Andy Pages have stepped up to fill the void left by the sluggish sluggers.
Meanwhile, star Shohei Ohtani, known for his return to two-way duties, leads the National League with 28 home runs. The Dodgers remain optimistic that Betts and Freeman, despite their struggles, will regain their previous form, boosting an already potent offense.
References:
- Los Angeles Times
- Associated Press
- MLB Statistics
- The Dodgers, hailing from Los Angeles, California, have been relying heavily on the performances of their star hitters, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, despite their recent slumps in form.
- Despite their struggles in the batting department, the Dodgers have found other sources of offense, with players like Will Smith, Max Muncy, and Andy Pages stepping up to fill the void.
- Shohei Ohtani, another star player for the Dodgers, leads the National League with 28 home runs, adding an extra boost to their offense.
- With Betts and Freeman currently batting below their career averages, concerns have been raised about their health and midas touch, as both players are experiencing unusual drops in prowess.
