Dave Roberts’ decision to bench Mookie Betts: Dodgers in serious trouble in the World Series

If there was a lineup that struck fear into opponents, it was the Los Angeles Dodgers with the three powerhouse players Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani – but this season, and especially in the World Series 2025, one player has stopped terrorizing anyone.  And we could say that in LA they have a massive problem with Mookie Betts’ World Series slump, who has even been self-critical about his hitting performance.

Mookie Betts has fallen short for the Dodgers

Betts is a former American League MVP and three-time World Series champion, and he most recently went 0-for-4 in Game 5 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Mookie Betts is 3-for-23 in the World Series pic.twitter.com/PQxjnnwNdp

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 30, 2025

The shortstop is batting a dismal .130 (3-for-23) with no extra-base hits or RBIs in this Dodgers vs Blue Jays World Series. His OPS stands at .648 for the entire postseason.  Moving him around in the lineup didn’t work, and now the Dodgers need Mookie Betts more than ever – because a loss would leave them empty-handed.  “I don’t want to speak for anybody else, but for me, personally, I’ve just been terrible,” Betts said. “I’ve been terrible and I wish it was from lack of effort, I really do, but it’s not. So, I don’t have any answers.”

The season has been tough for Betts, marking his worst regular season in what’s shaping up to be a Hall of Fame career.  While he has delivered defensively – even transitioning from the outfield – Betts posted career lows in batting average (.258), on-base percentage (.326), slugging (.406), and OPS (.732).

The struggles come at the exact moment when the Dodgers’ offense hasn’t been hitting well, scoring 18 runs in their first five games and just three in the losses suffered in Games 4 and 5. So the blame doesn’t fall solely on the former Boston Red Sox star.  The Dodgers face elimination in the World Series where they’ll need the best version of their players – and this would be the perfect moment for Mookie Betts to bounce back.