Dodgers like their odds with Betts in or out of the lineup

Mookie Betts has been so hot for the Dodgers lately, the only one who can cool him off is manager Dave Roberts.

Roberts plans to rest Betts in Monday’s series finale against the Florida Marlins.

His reasoning? Playing on turf takes its toll. Plus even Roberts recognizes Betts needs a break from time to time even if the temptation is to play him every inning of every game.

“It seems like every swing he takes is center cut so I think the challenge for me is to recognize that but resist the urge to run him out there every single day,” Roberts told the Associated Press.

When you have a Ferrari, what’s the point of keeping it locked in the garage? But Roberts knows he gets the best out of Betts when he lets him rest and recoup.

Betts homered four times in three games against the Marlins over the weekend. He hit two home runs in Friday’s game. His homer off Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara in Saturday’s game accounted for the Dodgers only run in a 2-1 loss.

He went 8-for-15 (.533) with seven RBIs in the first three games of the series against the Marlins. He was 9-for-26 (.346) in six games last week between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Marlins.

Betts has hit 31 home runs and has quietly entered the conversation for MVP. 

He has definitely been a big part of the Dodgers success since the All Star Game.

The Dodgers are 28-8 since the All Star Game and are 50 games over .500 with the best record in the major leagues. They went 4-2 last week and outscored their opponents 41-20 in games against the Brewers and Marlins.

There are other players who have contributed to the Dodgers surge.

Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman are 1-2 in the National League for most hits. Freeman is second in hitting with a .326 batting average. Turner is fourth with a .311 batting average. Paul Goldschmidt of the St. Louis Cardinals leads the NL with a .338 average after Sunday’s games.  

Tony Gonsolin and Julio Urias have been among the best pitchers in the league since the All Star break.

Gonsolin leads the NL in wins with 16 and ERA at 2.10 after Sunday’s games.

Urias is 14-7 and has won 10 of his last 11 starts. He was the winning pitcher in Sunday’s game against the Marlins. The Dodgers won 8-1 with Urias going six innings and giving up one run on one hit, a solo home run by Brian Anderson.

But it has been Betts bringing the boom.

His 31 home runs are third in the NL. He leads the league in runs scored with 99. And he is still the best right fielder defensively in the majors.

With those numbers it’s easy to see why Roberts wants to play him every day. Save some of those days for the playoffs.

Dodger starters power rankings:

1. Tony Gonsolin
2. Julio Urias
3. Andrew Heaney
4. Dustin May
5. Tyler Anderson

The Dodgers (88-38) finish their four-game series against the Marlins today before heading to New York for a three-game series with the Mets starting on Tuesday. The Dodgers come home on Friday to start a weekend series with those pesky San Diego Padres.