DENVER — Getting into the final week of the common season, the Dodgers don’t have a lot to play for by way of the standings. They already gained their tenth Nationwide League West title in 11 seasons. It’s additionally extremely unlikely they are going to catch the Braves for the highest seed within the NL.
The Dodgers, nonetheless, did have some particular person issues to play for as they walked into hitter-friendly Coors Discipline for a four-game set. Freddie Freeman is seeking to make historical past within the doubles division, whereas Mookie Betts remains to be very a lot within the NL MVP race, together with Freeman and Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr.
To open the collection in Colorado, although, each Freeman and Betts had been comparatively quiet within the Dodgers’ 4-1 loss to the Rockies on Tuesday afternoon in Sport 1 of a break up doubleheader.
Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated he’s going to provide each Freeman and Betts each alternative to get their numbers during the last week. Well being, after all, shall be prioritized as they appear to win a second World Sequence title in 4 seasons.
Betts led off Sport 1 with a single and stole his 14th base of the season. Within the fifth, Betts recorded his second single, however he made a expensive baserunning mistake that ended the risk.
After posting video game-like numbers in August, the 2018 American League MVP has had a strong September, however nothing fairly to the extent he spoiled everybody with the primary 5 months of the regular-season.
Betts has 5 multihit video games in September, although he had a lot to point out within the energy division. Betts, who got here into the month with a career-high 38 homers, has solely left the yard as soon as since September 11. With six video games left within the Dodgers’ season, time is beginning to tick on Betts’ MVP candidacy.
“MVP is cool, but it surely’s type of irrelevant — we play to win the World Sequence,” Betts stated. “Particular person targets are actually cool and a few folks play for that, and there’s nothing flawed with that in any respect. However me, I play as a result of I wish to win. … There are such a lot of guys which have performed properly and there’s no argument to what Acuña has been doing.”
Acuña entered the ultimate week because the front-runner for the award. He’s the primary member of the 40-homer, 60-steals membership and nonetheless has an opportunity to swipe 70 luggage. The Braves’ proper fielder can be among the many league leaders in hits, runs and batting common. He has closed out his season on a tear, hitting 11 homers because the begin of the collection towards the Dodgers on Aug. 31.
Betts, however, has given the Dodgers invaluable flexibility on the defensive facet. He has performed an elite proper subject — which he has accomplished all through his whole profession — and has been an above-average second baseman. That has allowed Los Angeles to play a resurgent Jason Heyward extra in proper, giving the crew versatility on a nightly foundation.
In a number of methods, it’s onerous to examine a participant being extra worthwhile than Betts has been to this model of the Dodgers. In the long run, nonetheless, Betts is aware of it’ll finally come all the way down to which participant places collectively the perfect offensive season. He has some work to do, however he’s nonetheless up for the problem.
“It’s a grind,” Betts stated. “You’re beginning to cool off a bit of bit. You’re beginning to really feel the leaves falling. However you’ve acquired to determine a solution to catch your second wind and end sturdy. I did a number of work and preparation to complete sturdy. Nonetheless acquired a pair extra video games left.”