LOS ANGELES — Mookie Betts has found his MVP gear—right on time
A few months ago, Mookie Betts looked like a star searching for answers. Swings got big, timing came and went, and too many at-bats ended with a frustrated walk back to the dugout. The Dodgers needed their two-hole engine to be himself again, and for a while it just wasn’t there.
Look up now.
On Monday, MLB named Betts the National League Player of the Week presented by Chevrolet, and it’s not hard to see why. Over six games he hit .462 (12-for-26) with two homers, 10 RBI, three doubles, seven runs, and a gaudy .517/.808/1.325 slash line. He ranked second in the Majors for the week in RBI, slugging, OPS, and hits; third in batting average; tied for third in runs; fourth in on-base percentage; and tied for fourth in total bases (21). That’s not “finding it”—that’s dominating.
The exclamation point came Wednesday against Colorado: four hits, five RBI, and a grand slam in the eighth inning to put the game on ice. It was Betts’ eighth career game with at least four hits and at least five RBI—most in the Majors since his 2014 debut—and ties him with Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio and Al Simmons for the third-most such games ever, trailing only Lou Gehrig (10) and Charlie Gehringer (9). When your current hot streak drops you into a conversation with those names, you’re cooking.
Just as impressive is the sustained quality of his plate appearances. Since August 24, Betts has reached base safely in 19 straight games, slashing .382/.447/.671 (1.118 OPS) during the run. He also recorded multiple RBI in five consecutive games from September 6–10—the longest such streak of his career and the longest by a Dodger since Matt Kemp did it in 2010. That’s the kind of relentless production that flips games, series, and—if you keep it rolling—entire Octobers.
Context matters here. Not long ago, Betts looked like he was fighting himself. The takes weren’t as decisive, the swing decisions not as Mookie-like. Now the at-bats are rhythmic and ruthless: early count line drives, two-strike adjustability, and the occasional “that ball’s not coming back” lift when a pitcher dares him in the zone. The week’s numbers are loud, but the process behind them is what should have Dodger fans grinning. He’s seeing it, he’s trusting it, and he’s punishing mistakes.
This is also a milestone award for Betts. It’s his sixth career Player of the Week and third as a Dodger (previous L.A. wins came August 29, 2022 and August 28, 2023), after three earlier honors with Boston (June 21, 2015; May 14, 2017; July 3, 2017). That makes him the 15th player since 1973 to earn at least three POW nods in each league—another reminder that we’re watching a first-ballot Hall of Famer build out a resume that already spans eras, coasts, and positions. Speaking of positions: he’s done all of this while holding down shortstop, the most demanding spot on the dirt. Add in that he’s the Dodgers’ 2025 Roberto Clemente Award nominee, and you get the full picture—excellence with impact.
October baseball doesn’t wait for anyone. It punishes hesitation and rewards teams whose stars arrive on time. The Dodgers are about to step into that furnace with their shortstop playing like the best version of himself. A few months ago, the question was whether Mookie could rediscover that MVP gear. Today’s answer came stamped by the league office, underlined by a week of thunder, and delivered—beautifully—just in the nick of time.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
