Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is keeping Shohei Ohtani in the lineup for Game 3 of the NLCS, despite a postseason slump that has the Japanese superstar hitting just .150 heading into a must-win game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Los Angeles trails the series 2-0 after dropping both games in Milwaukee, and Ohtani went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Game 2. He has no extra-base hits and no RBIs this postseason, and hasn’t homered since Aug. 18.
Roberts made the call after meeting with president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Brandon Gomes, weighing whether to bench Ohtani for the first time in a postseason series. He decided to trust him.
“He’s adamant he feels good enough to be in there,” Roberts told reporters Tuesday during the team’s off-day, addressing Ohtani’s left knee and right arm issues. “He’s close to finding something with his swing. I feel great about it.”
Roberts said the decision followed candid conversations with his star player.
“He was very convicted that he is onto something mechanically,” Roberts said. “He was adamant that he can help us, he’s well enough to help us win a baseball game. So, that’s all I needed to hear.”
Ohtani, speaking through interpreter Will Ireton, said his physical issues aren’t the explanation for his performance at the plate: “The symptoms shouldn’t be the reason why I can’t hit.” He said he takes full responsibility for how he’s played in October.
Ohtani has been dealing with the knee and arm problems since the regular season, including an injured list stint for his arm. Roberts said his confidence in Ohtani has “never wavered,” and Game 3 at Dodger Stadium will test that trust as the defending back-to-back World Series champions try to avoid falling into a 3-0 series hole.
