With hard work and 'positive vibes,' Betts swinging like superstar again

SAN DIEGO -- After the Dodgers' swift exit from the 2023 postseason, a three-game sweep at the hands of the D-backs in the National League Division Series, much was made of the lack of production from Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the two former MVPs at the top of the lineup.

Betts and Freeman combined to go 1-for-21 in three games last postseason, with the lone hit being a Freeman single. This year's edition of the NLDS against the Padres started in a similar fashion for Betts, who snapped a hitless streak of 22 postseason at-bats dating back to Game 3 of the 2022 NLDS with a first-inning homer in Tuesday night's Game 3.

But Betts appears to be taking strides in the right direction, as the Dodgers' versatile star turned in another solid offensive performance in Wednesday night's 8-0 win in Game 4, forcing a return to Dodger Stadium on Friday night to decide the best-of-five series.

"Mookie's been big," manager Dave Roberts said. "Obviously, we've got a lot of good players. But it's not on one player, clearly, and today, Mookie shined. Last night, Mookie shined. … That's the great thing about having good players. They don't need to do anything more than they're capable of and do what their abilities allow for."

For the first time this series, L.A. not only struck first but also kept its foot on the gas, backing a stellar effort from the bullpen. And it started with Betts.

On a night when the Dodgers were missing Freeman, whose sprained right ankle flared up so badly that he was a late scratch, and shortstop Miguel Rojas, who has been solid at the bottom of the order but was held out after aggravating a lingering adductor injury, Betts set the tone with a solo shot in the first and an RBI single in the second.

Betts' home run could have been his third in as many games if not for a spectacular play from Jurickson Profar in Game 2 on Sunday. Instead, he was on the wrong end of a robbery at the left-field wall, made even more highlight-worthy by Profar's delayed reveal that he had made the snag.

Betts seemed so affected by both his postseason slump and the memory of the previous game that on Tuesday, when he took Padres starter Michael King deep to left field in the first inning, he almost instinctively turned back toward the visitors' dugout when he saw Profar leap in an effort to make the play.

"The first one, I mean, that was in the midst of the 0-for-whatever," Betts said in a postgame interview on FS1. "And so that was really deflating. And then yesterday, I got to see one fall.

"I felt kind of like Steph Curry a little bit. I just needed to see one go in, and then I knew I could do it. And now, I have my confidence back and I'm ready to go."

After Betts went hitless in the first two games, he knew he had to get to work to get back to the superstar-caliber player he knows he can be. In an effort to get back on track, he hit, hit and hit some more.

He's finally starting to see the results with back-to-back multihit games.

"My teammates did an amazing job trying to … instill confidence in me," Betts said. "I had to turn off all social media because that was all negative. And I had to get some positive vibes in me. And my team did it. And I worked hard and finally saw one fall, and I think we're all right now."

Betts' teammates are aware that a player like him could carry a team if need be. The Dodgers aren't asking him to do that, with superstar Shohei Ohtani hitting one spot ahead of him and plenty of talent to go around in the lineup.

But with a return to Dodger Stadium for Game 5 looming, everyone around the club knows how much of a game changer Betts can be when he's at his best.

"It was about time for Mookie to get going," left fielder Teoscar Hernández said. "He's been working really, really hard to find that stroke that he needs in his swing, just to be able to hit the ball hard and get on base for the guys behind him. When he's good, he's always on base. It gives us a better chance to score more runs."