Mookie

Betts

Gomes, who added that recently-extended Tommy Edman will play center field next year, told reporters last month that plan was for Betts to move back to the infield next season and we now have confirmation that he’ll be Los Angeles’ starting shortstop heading into the 2025 campaign. It’s a significant development for fantasy purposes as it means there’s a chance he won’t pick up second-base eligibility. The 32-year-old fantasy superstar figures to continue bouncing around the diamond, if needed, in a multi-position role, but it appears he’ll have a more permanent defensive home to open next year.

No surprise here after Ohtani wrapped up his sublime Dodgers debut with a stratospheric 1.036 OPS to go along with 54 homers, 59 steals and 130 RBI over 159 games. The other interesting note here is Jackson Merrill becoming just the 16th rookie ever to take home the honor since 1980. Here are the rest of the National League winners: William Contreras (C), Bryce Harper (1B), Ketel Marte (2B), Manny Machado (3B), Francisco Lindor (SS), Jackson Merrill (OF), Jurickson Profar (OF), Teoscar Hernández (OF), Shohei Ohtani (DH) and Mookie Betts (UTIL).

Betts played a pivotal role this past season in leading the Dodgers to their second World Series title in the last five seasons, splitting time between right field, shortstop and second base. The assumption here seems to be that Tommy Edman will transition back to the outfield on a more permanent basis next season with Los Angeles bringing in some additional free agent reinforcements. The big development here for fantasy purposes is that it seems highly likely Betts will regain second base eligibility at some point in the early stages of the 2025 campaign.

The Dodgers overcame a 5-0 deficit in crazy fashion in the fifth, with Betts running hard on a squibber to first playing a key role. Anthony Rizzo looked like he’d be able to get the out by himself, causing Gerrit Cole not to cover first, but the ball was spinning away from him, and with Betts making no assumptions, he beat it out and plated the Dodgers’ first run of the game. He also knocked in the last on one of two eighth-inning sac flies. He’s not getting Series MVP honors after Freddie Freeman homered in the first four games, but he posted the best numbers of any Dodger this month, coming in at .290/.387/.565 with four homers and 16 RBI in 16 games.

Betts’ home run was his fourth of the playoffs. He hit a solo shot off Ryan Stanek in the sixth inning to cut the Mets’ lead to 10-6. Betts got off to a slow start in the playoffs, but now he’s hitting .300 with a 1.079 OPS and 11 RBI.

Betts staked the Dodgers to a 5-2 lead with a two-run double in the fourth inning. Then he hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning. It was Betts’ third home run of the playoffs. After a slow start, he’s suddenly hitting .278 with a .964 OPS in the postseason.

And we’re tied. Betts homered for the second straight game — again in the first inning — and he’s Jurickson Profar away from making it three consecutive contests. The outfielder also drove in a run an inning later with a single. Betts has performed well in this series with a slash of .269/.387/.667 with the pair of homers and three RBI. Game 5 will take place on Friday in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers will roll out the same lineup they did for their Game 1 victory against San Diego. The full group against Yu Darvish: DH Shohei Ohtani, RF Betts, 1B Freeman, LF Teoscar Hernandez, 3B Max Muncy, C Will Smith, 2B Gavin Lux, CF Tommy Edman and SS Miguel Rojas with Jack Flaherty on the mound.

That’s quite a finish. Ohtani’s homer off Seth Halvorsen was his fourth hit of the game. He also had two steals, putting him at 53/55 for the year. Betts then followed with his 19th homer just over the wall in left. Ohtani’s big game pushed his average back over .300 for the first time since early August. He’s up to an MLB-high 128 runs scored, which is 25 more than he ever totaled for the Angels.

It’s Betts’ first start at second since May 29. He started 11 games at second and 61 at short during the first half of the season. Chris Taylor is getting the start in left with Betts in the infield. Teoscar Hernández slides from left to right.