Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts was hitting just .240 through the month of July this season with a .681 OPS.
Since the start of August, Betts has roared back with a slash line of .294/.351/.478 with an OPS of .828, adding nine of his 20 home runs in that span as well. His hot streak has continued into the postseason, hitting .389 with three RBIs and three extra-base hits in those four games.
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With a trip to the NLCS being just one win away (and two opportunities to do it at home), Betts had a message for Dodgers fans ahead of Game 3 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies.
“We’ve got to bring it. Those guys definitely did (in Philadelphia),” Betts said. “It was loud. My ears were ringing a couple times. A really good atmosphere to play baseball in. Really fun. You really felt the love for the Phillies. You felt the love for the city.
“So I expect Dodger Nation to come and show the love for us as a team and us as a city. So I’m expecting it to be really loud.”
Betts was right about Citizens Bank Park, where the Dodgers beat the Phillies during Games 1 and 2 of the NLDS. Going into October, it was historically the third-most difficult environment to win a playoff game in (with a minimum of 20 games played) and the most difficult for away teams across active stadiums.
After the difficult year Betts had, he is not only proving once again why he is such a special player, but that he is a pillar for the Dodgers after such a tumultuous stretch.
The Dodgers started September with a five-game losing streak and ended up bouncing back to go 14-10 that month heading into the postseason. As is important for any team heading into the postseason, it is all about getting hot at the right time. Hopefully the fans at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night will help contribute to the heat and a subsequent NLCS berth.
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Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
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