MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers: Mookie Betts In Barry Bonds Territory; Homers In 4th Straight Game

by
tkoerth
March 31, 2024

The Los Angeles Dodgers are getting the best of Mookie Betts.

Los Angeles Dodgers leadoff hitter Mookie Betts is off to a tremendous start to the season. He has hit a home run in four straight games now (out of five total) and his OPS during this stretch has his name up there with the likes of Barry Bonds.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 29: Mookie Betts #50 and Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pose for a photo with trophies for being awarded the Silver Slugger award for the 2023 season prior to a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on March 29, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Mookie Betts as a 2.109 OPS Through Five Los Angeles Dodgers Games This Year

The Los Angeles Dodgers began the 2024 season in Seoul, where they played two games against the San Diego Padres. In Seoul, Betts had six hits, one double, one home run, and seven total runs batted in. Against the St. Louis Cardinals, he has added five more hits and three runs batted in.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – CIRCA 1993: Barry Bonds #25 of the San Francisco Giants bats during a Major League Baseball game circa 1993 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. Bonds played for the Giants from 1993-2007. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Through any Major League Baseball player’s first five games and a minimum of 20 plate appearances, Betts has the fourth-highest OPS since 1901. Sarah Langs indicates that ahead of Betts’ 2.109 OPS is 2015 Adrian Gonzalez‘s 2.338, 2006 Chris Shelton‘s 2.477, and 2002 Barry Bonds’s 2.484.

highest OPS in team’s 1st 5 games of season, min 20 PA (since at least 1901):

2002 Barry Bonds: 2.484
2006 Chris Shelton: 2.477
2015 Adrian Gonzalez: 2.338
2024 Mookie Betts: 2.109
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) March 31, 2024

Along with an Impressive OPS Mookie Betts Also has the Third Most Runs Batted in Through Five Games in Dodgers History

Per Sarah Langs Betts, Betts’s 10 runs batted in through five games have tied him for the third most in Los Angeles Dodgers history. This is since 1920, and only in 1974 Jim Wynn, with 11 RBI, and in 1953, Roy Campanella, with 12 RBI, have been better.

most RBI in Dodgers’ 1st 5 games of season [rbi official since 1920]:

1953 Roy Campanella: 12
1974 Jim Wynn: 11
2024 Mookie Betts: 10
1952 Roy Campanella: 10 https://t.co/IEk5pNcLeD
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) March 31, 2024

Betts has had an absurdly great start to the season. His slash line is .307/.408/1.389. He has walked seven times compared to just two strikeouts, but he has 25 total bases and has crossed home plate nine times.

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