During his six-year tenure with the Phillies, Betts was an ordinary pitcher at best, compiling 18 wins against 27 losses, and a 4.40 ERA. He spent 1926 in the low minors, and then was out of baseball for the next five years.
Returning to the big leagues in 1932 with the Boston Braves, at the age of 35 Betts unexpectedly became one of the National League's best pitchers. He finished the season 13–11 with a 2.80 ERA, which was the third best ERA in the NL. He also did well in 1933, going 11–11 with a 2.79 ERA, which again put him in the top 10 of pitchers who qualified for the ERA crown. His ERA went up to 4.06 in 1934, but his won–loss record was the best of his career at 17–10.