Dodgers May Bench Slumping Shohei Ohtani for Pivotal NLCS Game

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is contemplating benching Shohei Ohtani for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, as the team faces a critical juncture after dropping the first two games to the Milwaukee Brewers. Ohtani, a four-time MVP, has struggled significantly at the plate during the postseason, leading to the consideration of his removal from the lineup for the most important game of the season thus far.

"Yeah, I mean, obviously it hasn’t been good," Roberts told The Athletic. "He doesn’t feel great. I think for me, it’s having a conversation with him tomorrow, kind of try to figure out what’s best for him, what’s best for us. He certainly has earned that conversation and deserves it."

Ohtani has batted just .150 through 24 postseason plate appearances, with no extra-base hits. This performance follows a regular season in which he missed approximately two weeks due to pain in his left knee and right biceps. His last home run came on August 18, and he has been in an extended slump since then, hitting .157 with only one RBI from August 19 onwards and striking out in nearly 35% of his at-bats during that period.

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In Game 3 of the Dodgers' National League Division Series win against the Atlanta Braves, Roberts moved Ohtani to fifth in the batting order, his lowest lineup position since 2020. Observers have noted a change in Ohtani's approach at the plate, with his characteristic powerful swings replaced by what appears to be a more tentative, slap-hitting style. In one instance during Game 2 against the Brewers, Ohtani squared around to bunt while leading off an inning.

The Dodgers are facing an 0-2 series deficit in Milwaukee, having scored only five runs on 10 hits in their two losses. The potential decision to bench Ohtani, a player widely considered one of the greatest of his generation, would undoubtedly send ripples through the baseball world.