“It means nothing,” Betts said. “Just game one.”
That mindset reflects a veteran clubhouse focused less on early statements and more on the long road ahead. While the Dodgers delivered a comeback performance fueled by timely hitting and pitching, Betts emphasized the bigger picture — 162 games, not one game alone.
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Still, the ingredients that powered the win were impossible to ignore.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s ability to settle in after early trouble stood out, as did an offense that didn’t break despite a slow start. Betts described the group’s confidence in simple terms: no matter the inning or situation, they believe they’re never out of a game.
“It’s 27 outs,” Betts said. “We can get it started from anywhere in the lineup. That’s the beauty about us.”
That depth showed itself as the game progressed. After being held in check early, the Dodgers chipped away with quality at-bats before breaking through in a decisive inning. Betts admitted even he lost track of how quickly things turned.
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“A couple good at-bats here, a couple at-bats there, and then we got them on the ropes,” he said. “We pushed through.”
When asked if this is the best lineup he’s been a part of, Betts didn’t hesitate to place it among the elite groups of his career. He also made it clear what separates this one.
“From top to bottom, this is tough to get through,” he said.
Despite the Opening Day buzz, pregame ceremonies, and celebration surrounding the team, Betts noted the Dodgers remained locked in on the task at hand. That ability to block out distractions, he said, is part of what makes the group so dangerous.
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“We do a really good job of focusing on the task,” Betts said. “We had a ballgame to play.”
That same mentality applies to the bigger goal looming over the season. With championship expectations — and even talk of a potential three-peat – Betts said the team isn’t getting ahead of itself.
“It’s kind of old news,” he said. “We’re not focused on that anymore.”
Instead, the focus shifts immediately forward — to the next game, the next step.
Even external narratives, like the idea of the Dodgers as “villains” or a team with a target on its back, don’t carry weight inside the clubhouse.
“When you win, that’s what it is,” Betts said. “But the game will determine who wins and loses.”
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For Betts, the message is simple: Ignore the noise, trust the process, and take it one game at a time.
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