The Dodgers Desperately Need the All-Star Break
SportsGrid Contributor Just Baseball
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Teoscar Hernández
After a breakout 2024 campaign with 33 home runs and a 4.3 bWAR, Teoscar Hernández began this season on a similar trajectory, hitting .298 with an .880 OPS through the end of May. However, he’s been ice-cold in June, slashing .198/.620 with four homers and 24 strikeouts in 81 at-bats. His season numbers (.796 OPS, .496 SLG) remain above league average, but his .300 OBP and 1.7 bWAR point to a downward trend. With limited defensive value—ranking in the third percentile in both range and fielding value—his offensive output must carry the load. The Dodgers recently dropped him to sixth in the batting order, and while he's still second in All-Star voting among NL outfielders, others like Juan Soto, Kyle Tucker, Fernando Tatis Jr., and even teammate Andy Pages have had more impactful first halves. Hernández, like the rest of this core, could benefit from the upcoming pause to regroup and reset for a strong second-half run.
The post The All-Star Break Can’t Come Soon Enough for the Dodgers appeared first on Just Baseball.
Dodgers’ Core Stars in Need of a Breather
With the 2025 MLB All-Star break fast approaching, players across the league are looking forward to a much-needed pause, both physically and mentally. For the Los Angeles Dodgers, the break couldn’t come at a better time. Despite boasting the best record in the National League as of June 26, the Dodgers have navigated a wave of injuries to their pitching staff. They are now experiencing a significant offensive lull from their most prominent players. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernández, the top four hitters in L.A.’s lineup on most nights, have all shown signs of fatigue, inconsistency, or decline in recent weeks. As the grind of summer intensifies, no group of players seems to need the All-Star pause more than these four cornerstones.
Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis, and insights for this slideshow article.
Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani continues to post elite numbers, .291 average, 27 homers, 51 RBIs, and a 1.018 OPS through 79 games, but even he has shown some signs of slowing down. His June line, while still strong (.273/.904 with five homers), has been muted compared to earlier months. More notably, his strikeout rate has spiked, especially since he returned to pitching earlier this month. In the eight games following his season pitching debut, Ohtani struck out 14 times, a trend that could indicate the two-way workload is starting to affect him. It’s worth considering whether hitting leadoff after pitching is sustainable, especially when those games come with additional pressure and fatigue. Even with his superstar production, Ohtani could use the All-Star break to recalibrate physically and mentally as he ramps up his unique dual-role responsibilities.
Freddie Freeman
Freddie Freeman was on fire in May, hitting a scorching .410 with a 1.124 OPS over 105 at-bats and looking every bit like an MVP contender. By the end of the month, he held a .374 batting average and a 1.078 OPS, driving the heart of L.A.’s offense. But June has brought a sharp decline. He’s managed just a .179 average and a .484 OPS with no home runs in 84 at-bats, striking out 22 times while managing only three RBIs. His season average has dipped to .310, and his OPS has fallen to .886. Statcast data suggests nothing alarming under the surface, he’s still above average in key metrics, but at 35 years old and with over 2,100 career games logged, even the ever-reliable Freeman isn’t immune to wear and tear. His 1.9 bWAR lags behind peers like Matt Olson, Pete Alonso, and Michael Busch, but his pedigree is undeniable. A short break may be just what he needs to snap back into form.
Mookie Betts
While Mookie Betts remains one of the league’s premier defenders, ranking in the 94th percentile for range and 86th in fielding run value—his bat has not followed suit. He’s hitting just .253 with a career-low .721 OPS and has only nine home runs in 289 at-bats. Since May 20, he’s managed just one long ball. That’s a far cry from the offensive consistency we've come to expect from the 2018 AL MVP and three-time World Series champion. His track record (.888 career OPS) suggests this slump is temporary. Still, between adjusting to playing shortstop every day and recovering from a preseason illness, Betts may be feeling the cumulative effects. His 2.6 bWAR underscores his all-around value, but a few days off could be the spark needed to reignite his offensive game.
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Teoscar Hernández
After a breakout 2024 campaign with 33 home runs and a 4.3 bWAR, Teoscar Hernández began this season on a similar trajectory, hitting .298 with an .880 OPS through the end of May. However, he’s been ice-cold in June, slashing .198/.620 with four homers and 24 strikeouts in 81 at-bats. His season numbers (.796 OPS, .496 SLG) remain above league average, but his .300 OBP and 1.7 bWAR point to a downward trend. With limited defensive value—ranking in the third percentile in both range and fielding value—his offensive output must carry the load. The Dodgers recently dropped him to sixth in the batting order, and while he's still second in All-Star voting among NL outfielders, others like Juan Soto, Kyle Tucker, Fernando Tatis Jr., and even teammate Andy Pages have had more impactful first halves. Hernández, like the rest of this core, could benefit from the upcoming pause to regroup and reset for a strong second-half run.
The post The All-Star Break Can’t Come Soon Enough for the Dodgers appeared first on Just Baseball.
Dodgers’ Core Stars in Need of a Breather
With the 2025 MLB All-Star break fast approaching, players across the league are looking forward to a much-needed pause, both physically and mentally. For the Los Angeles Dodgers, the break couldn’t come at a better time. Despite boasting the best record in the National League as of June 26, the Dodgers have navigated a wave of injuries to their pitching staff. They are now experiencing a significant offensive lull from their most prominent players. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernández, the top four hitters in L.A.’s lineup on most nights, have all shown signs of fatigue, inconsistency, or decline in recent weeks. As the grind of summer intensifies, no group of players seems to need the All-Star pause more than these four cornerstones.
Thanks to Just Baseball for the stats, analysis, and insights for this slideshow article.
