For the Dodgers and Cody Bellinger, the odds were not in the former MVP’s favor both going into Friday Night’s game and during his at-bat in the bottom of the eighth.
Bellinger has been ice cold over the past two seasons. Shoulder surgery and a leg injury derailed him last season. In his 2021 campaign, he finished second to last in wRC+ (48), had the fifth worst slugging percentage (.302), and had the fourth lowest WAR (-1.0).
During his MVP season in 2019, Belli had a batting average of .305 and hit .280 against left-handed pitchers with 18 of his 47 home runs off southpaws.