Mookie Betts has found his groove, hitting home runs in five of his last 13 games. On Sunday, June 28, 2026, he lined a two-run single in the fifth inning to break open a 4-2 Dodgers win over the San Diego Padres.
What happened?
Mookie Betts entered Sunday with a league-average 100 wRC+ after a miserable start offensively. He is looking like the hitter the Los Angeles Dodgers have come to know, with all three home runs during this torrid stretch coming on the kind of pull-side power that made him a star.
Why it matters for Mookie Betts
Betts believes in what he’s doing again, feeling unlucky for most of 2026, with the largest gap in baseball between his expected batting average (.282) and actual batting average (.230). He has sorted through enough in his swing and now focuses on just hitting the ball.
Mookie Betts is 33 years old now, coming off the worst offensive season of his career. His elite glove at shortstop has given Betts cushion, but he needs to produce at even a slightly above league-average rate to be one of the most valuable players in the sport.
What comes next?
Manager Dave Roberts said Mookie Betts has more intent in the batter’s box and less indecisiveness. If he can maintain this proactive approach, everything else will take care of itself. Betts wishes he could’ve always been this way, with a freedom that comes with not thinking about his mechanics.
On Sunday, Mookie Betts homered in his third consecutive game. He entered Sunday having homered in five of his last 13 games, and his two-hit day helped the Dodgers win 4-2. Betts said it’s hard to think about anything other than just trying to compete against the guy on the mound, with pitchers now throwing five or six pitches.
Mookie Betts feels like he’s in the midst of a heater, like a sharpshooter. He compared himself to Steph Curry, saying you just need to see a ball go through the rim. Betts has found his form, and the Dodgers are benefiting from it. He will look to continue this hot streak and help his team win more games.
The Dodgers' win over the Padres on Sunday was a significant one, with Mookie Betts playing a key role. He will look to build on this performance and help his team succeed in the coming games. With his current form, Mookie Betts is a player to watch in the MLB.