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The LA Dodgers are off to a hot start in 2022, playing the part of World Series contender to perfection while winning 9 of their first 12 games. Things are going well for Dave Roberts' squad, and they've jumped out to an early lead in the NL West. It's only been a couple of weeks since the season got underway, so it's important for fans to maintain realistic expectations, both positive and negative.
While some players got out the gate red hot, others are struggling to find their footing in 2022. It's been a short sample, however, and fans need to ensure they don't overreact to the early results we're seeing this season, especially after what was a tumultuous offseason.
3 Dodgers overreactions after first 2 weeks of 2022 MLB season
3. There's no need to worry about Mookie Betts.
Mookie Betts is off to a dismal start to the year, slashing just .178/.288/.222 with 0 home runs and just 3 RBI. The outfielder has just 8 hits in 45 at-bats this season, logging 10 total bases across 11 games. It's been tough sledding for Betts out the gate, but he has plenty of time to right the ship and return to the form that made him a five-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger. This is just a typical slump for Betts, something even the best of hitters go through, and there's no reason to doubt he'll be back to his usual self before long. Even with Betts struggling, the Dodgers are 9-3 and atop the division, so there isn't any added pressure on the former AL MVP to up his game.
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2. Clayton Kershaw is not the same pitcher he once was
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Dave Roberts was heavily scrutinized for pulling Clayton Kershaw after he tossed seven perfect innings with 13 strikeouts. It was a vintage Kershaw performance and one which Dodgers fans, and baseball fans alike, were delighted to see after he's been dealing with injury over the past few years. The reality of the situation, as Kershaw himself admitted, is that Roberts made the right call in removing the lefty from the game.
Kershaw hasn't pitched more than 200 innings in a single season since 2015, topping out at 178.1 innings during the 2019 campaign. At age 34, Kershaw needs to be more careful with his body than ever, and chasing after records, albeit historic ones, is not the best way to keep the lefty on the mound for a full season. It's a tough pill to swallow, but Kershaw is no longer the perennial Cy Young candidate he was in the past. While he's, clearly, capable of throwing gems and racking up strikeouts, pushing him beyond his limits would be a critical mistake for the organization.
1. Are Max Muncy's struggles more than a slump?
Mookie Betts isn't the only Dodger struggling at the plate this season. Slugger Max Muncy has a .128 batting average on the year with just 5 hits in 39 at-bats. It's been a woeful start to the year for the veteran, but the underlying metrics suggest he's been plagued by extremely bad luck. In fact, Muncy's strikeout rate is down to 14.3% from 20.3% this year to last, and he's currently recording an abysmal .129 BABIP. Those numbers show that Muncy is making more contact with the ball than last season, however, is recording more outs due to poor luck on batted balls. Typically, that's a trend that rights itself throughout the season, so while Muncy's numbers are certainly worrisome at this juncture, getting more at-bats under his belt should see the stats return to the mean.
