Dodgers Drop Shohei Ohtani to No. 6 in Lineup Amid NLCS Slump
The star slugger was moved down in the batting order as the team faces a 2-0 series deficit.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Tuesday that Shohei Ohtani would remain in the lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, but dropped the star slugger to the No. 6 spot in the batting order. This move comes as Ohtani has struggled through an injury-hampered slump in the postseason, hitting just 3-for-20.
The Dodgers currently trail the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. Ohtani's slump includes an 0-for-4 performance with two strikeouts in Game 2, marking his worst outing of the playoffs thus far.
This is the lowest Ohtani has been slotted in the Dodgers' lineup during his tenure with the team. The decision to adjust the lineup also affected catcher Will Smith, who was dropped to the seventh spot after going 1-for-23 in the postseason.
In their place, Kyle Tucker was promoted to the cleanup spot, and Andy Pages was shifted to No. 5 in the order. These adjustments are part of the Dodgers' strategy to generate more offense and shift momentum against the Brewers' pitching staff, which has limited them to just five runs and 10 hits over the first two games of the NLCS.