The Los Angeles Dodgers have a history of early playoff exits. The Dodgers have won the National League West in 11 of the last 12 seasons but have only one title to show during the pandemic-shortened season. When the calendar turned to October, LA’s greatest players tended to depart, and it appeared that Mookie Betts would be no exception this year. After the Dodgers’ first two NLDS games against the Padres, Betts went 0-for-22 in the postseason since their 2023 run. However, some advice from a Boston Red Sox icon may have influenced Betts. Playoff hero David “Big Papi” Ortiz coached the former Red Sox in a way only he could, and his advice appears to have helped Betts get back on track.
Betts has been grinning since Ortiz gave him advice on October 8. Later that night, he hit his first home run of the postseason against the Padres, part of a two-hit performance. Betts homered again the next day, totaling two hits and two RBIs.
However, the veteran performed strongly against the Mets in the NLCS. Betts had nine hits, two of which were home runs, seven runs, and nine RBI in the first two postseason rounds, giving him a slash line of.295/.404/.659. The World Series duel between the Dodgers and the Yankees will begin on October 25. MLB’s most popular and expensive — and thus most despised — teams will rekindle their most common Fall Classic rivalry for the first time since 1981.
