Brewers Remain Wary of Shohei Ohtani's Potential Despite Struggles
Despite a postseason slump and ongoing injuries, the Milwaukee Brewers are not underestimating Shohei Ohtani's ability to change a game, recalling his historic performance from the previous year.
Milwaukee Brewers players expressed caution regarding Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani's capabilities, even amidst his current struggles and injury concerns during the National League Championship Series. Outfielder Garrett Mitchell stated he would be "shocked" if Ohtani were not in the lineup for critical games, emphasizing that "it takes one swing to come back." Manager Pat Murphy echoed this sentiment, noting that Ohtani's past performances, particularly his standout Game 4 in last year's NLCS, serve as a stark reminder of his potential impact.
Ohtani entered Game 3 of the NLCS batting just 3-for-20 in the postseason with no extra-base hits or RBIs. He had not hit a home run since August and was coming off a difficult Game 2 performance in a 7-4 loss that put the Dodgers in an early series deficit. Despite these statistics, Ohtani remained adamant about playing. Manager Dave Roberts relayed that Ohtani told him and other team executives, "I want to be in there. I know I can help the team. I’m close."
Roberts indicated that Ohtani's conviction was enough to keep him in the lineup. The Brewers, however, are not forgetting Ohtani's historic performance from the previous year's NLCS. In that series, Ohtani, who was in a slump, delivered a remarkable Game 4 performance with three home runs and 10 strikeouts to clinch the pennant for the Dodgers. Mitchell referenced this, stating, "Probably didn’t have the greatest series to start, but that Game 4, it just takes one day."
Murphy acknowledged the challenge of facing a player of Ohtani's caliber, even when he is not at his best. "You still have to go at him. You have to go at everybody," Murphy said when asked if the Brewers' approach had changed. Regarding the possibility of Ohtani being benched, Murphy commented, "Nothing in this game surprises me, to tell you the truth. Right when you think you know something, be careful; you might not."
The Dodgers, with their season on the line, are hoping Ohtani can recapture his form, while the Brewers remain prepared for the possibility of him delivering a decisive performance.