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Dodgers Shift Mookie Betts to No. 3 as Dave Roberts Forecasts MVP-Level Season

Betts also says he would play for Team USA at LA28 if MLB approves player participation.

The LA28 Olympic cauldron is lit during a ceremonial lighting at the Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on January 13, 2026, ahead of the launch of ticket registration for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images)
Oct 31, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) celebrates after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • Manager Dave Roberts told reporters he expects Betts to be in the MVP conversation this season, emphasizing health and winning as the priorities.
  • Roberts said Betts will likely hit third, with Shohei Ohtani leading off and Kyle Tucker penciled for the No. 2 spot, while Freddie Freeman is a leading option for cleanup.
  • The lineup recalibration follows a down 2025 for Betts (.258 average, .732 OPS) that included a late-spring stomach illness and a full transition to shortstop.
  • Betts said individual awards do not matter to him, stressing family and team goals after welcoming another child.
  • Betts stated he would "absolutely" play for Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if allowed, though MLB has not formally confirmed player participation despite the commissioner’s optimism.