The Los Angeles Dodgers swept the New York Mets in a three-game series Wednesday night, improving to 14-4 even as dropping the Mets to 7-12 and last in the National League East.
How the Dodgers are winning without their top hitters
The Dodgers rank near the top of the majors in almost every major offensive category despite Mookie Betts being out with an oblique injury, Kyle Tucker struggling as one of their worst hitters and Shohei Ohtani only recently finding his rhythm.
Most of the production has come from the bottom of the lineup, with the Nos. 7, 8 and 9 hitters combining for a .935 OPS — leading the majors and exceeding the second-place Atlanta Braves by 130 points.
That mark is just 10 points shy of Juan Soto’s OPS from 2023 to 2025, though the Dodgers acknowledge this surge won’t last indefinitely, especially as their top three hitters return to health.
Why Andy Pages could change the Dodgers’ dynamic
Andy Pages, who typically bats eighth when the roster is healthy, has shown important strides in his second full season, posting a .409 batting average and 20 RBIs while refining his approach at the plate.
For more on this story, see Texas Rangers Beat Los Angeles Dodgers 5-2 (April 12, 2026).
<Pages is seeing more pitches, striking out less often, and has made mechanical adjustments to his stance — staying slightly more crouched, shortening his bat path, and limiting head movement — to improve his hard-hit rate. <Pages struggled badly down the stretch last season and was benched in the playoffs, but at 25 years old he still carries 30/30 potential and could alter the Dodgers’ lineup balance if he sustains this performance.How Ohtani and Yamamoto are elevating each other
Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior noted in spring training that sharing a rotation with elite pitchers like Zack Greinke, Hyun Jin Ryu, and Walker Buehler made him better, drawing a parallel to how Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will push each other to higher levels.
What does the Dodgers’ early success indicate for their playoff chances?
With a 14-4 record, the Dodgers hold the MLB-best start to the season, suggesting they are positioned strongly for a deep postseason run if they maintain health and performance.
Can the Mets recover from their 0-8 start against the Dodgers?
The Mets fell to 7-12 after the sweep and are in last place in the National League East, but it remains early in the season, leaving room for a turnaround if they address early-season struggles.