On Wednesday, Roberts made it clear where his head is on Mookie Betts, saying he expects Betts to bat third, as reported by The Athletic’s Katie Woo.
Betts previously batted at No. 2, but with the addition of star outfielder Kyle Tucker and a drop in offensive production in 2025, he will move back one spot.Advertisement
Shohei Ohtani is expected to retain his leadoff spot, Roberts added.
Expectations for Mookie Betts in 2026
Betts had a down year at the plate in 2025, but spent last offseason restructuring his swing.
“It’s more about rewiring my mechanics, my brain, my motor patterns,” Betts explained, as reported by Fabián Ardaya of The Athletic. “I think it got out of control early on, and once it got out of control early, it was like a snowball effect.”
September 13, 2021; Los Angeles, California, United States; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts (50) is greeted by manager Dave Roberts (30) after scoring against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Dodger Stadium.
With a bounce-back year at the plate and continued strong performance at shortstop, Betts could be a contender for the National League’s best player, an expectation Roberts has accepted.
“Mookie (Betts) will be in the MVP conversation this year,” Roberts predicted, as reported by Jack Vita of the Los Angeles Times.
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A return to form for Betts?
Betts struggled in 2025, but that is largely due to his own success.
He hit .258/.326/.406. Compare that to 2024, when he had slashes of .289/.372/.491.
October 31, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) hits a two-RBI single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning during game six of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Center. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
However, before his time with the Dodgers, he led the Major Leagues in batting average and slugging percentage.
In 2018, he slashed .346/.438/.640 en route to winning the American League Most Valuable Player award.
Will history repeat itself in 2026? Only time will tell, but so far all signs are positive for the Boys in Blue.
Do you think Mookie Betts will be MVP-caliber again in 2026?