In a time when Hollywood’s biggest stars walk the picket lines, two remain shining brighter than ever. The Los Angeles Dodgers will finish the season with two players competing for the National League MVP award. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman are the last standing stars, radiating their star power across Hollywood and the league.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who wins the MVP award. Along with Ronald Acuna Jr., Betts, and Freeman are having astonishing seasons. Betts hit his 31st home run of the season against the Padres, closing in on his season-best of 35 home runs from last year. Freeman went 13-for-26 last week and earned National League Player of the Week.
Betts and Freeman are leading the Dodgers into another October run, as the team leads the National League West by 4.0 games. The sublime one-two punch at the top of the Dodgers order has not fallen short of the expectations set for them. Instead, Betts and Freeman have surpassed them with ease and swagger.
Here are three reasons why Betts and Freeman are the last remaining stars of Hollywood.
Hollywood’s Shining Stars Atop the Dodgers’ Lineup
Here For A While
The Dodgers traded for Mookie Betts before the 2020 season and immediately signed him to a 12-year contract. Andrew Freidman secured his team’s star for years to come, all that he needed to do was supply co-stars that could help Betts take the Dodgers into October stardom.
Friedman had other plans. Two years later, Friedman signed a co-star that could easily be nominated as best leading actor along with Betts. He signed Freddie Freeman to a six-year contract after he won the World Series.
Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman are locked to be at the top of the Dodgers lineup until 2028 when Freeman’s contract expires.
The only question that remains to be unanswered is, “how many titles can this duo earn?”
Friendship
“I think it’s just comfort,” Freeman said during the Sunday Night Baseball match. “We’re comfortable around each other and that was pretty fast to start.”
Their comfort drives both Freeman and Betts to thrive on and off the field. Their level of comfort drives their friendship to win ping pong tournaments without talking about their approach. When Betts missed time because of the birth of his child, Freeman set up Betts’ equipment to be ready for his arrival.
Freeman and Bett’s friendship has reached the level where they stop by each other’s house without letting the other person know. It is this kind of comfort that is projected on the rest of the team that will continue to push the Dodgers to reach legendary heights in the league, regardless of their co-stars.
As corny as it may sound, Betts and Freeman will continue to steer the Dodgers with the power of friendship.
Their Numbers Talk
Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman both own a season 5.2 WAR. Betts is five home runs away from topping his season-best home run number. Freeman leads the league with a 1.012 OPS. Their numbers are leading a Dodgers team that finished the month of July with a 6.12 ERA from their starters.
Yet, they lead the division by 4.0 games. The impact that Betts and Freeman have on the team goes beyond their leadership. Their numbers do all the talking, leaving the fun part of being captains to both players.
Regardless of the season’s outcome, the Dodgers will finish the season with both players in the MVP race.
