The Los Angeles Dodgers have decided to stick with Shohei Ohtani despite his slump, which includes a 24-game home run drought. Ohtani is expected to remain in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.
According to MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on the 14th that Ohtani would start in Game 3 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers on the 15th.
Roberts said he was “confident that Ohtani is feeling well enough to play.”
Since acquiring Ohtani, the Dodgers have won back-to-back World Series titles in 2024 and 2025. Ohtani played a key role as one of the team’s central hitters.
The situation is different this season, however. Ohtani, who had been contributing both as a pitcher and a hitter, has dealt with recurring injuries since July and is now playing exclusively as a hitter. His batting form also took a sharp downturn starting in August.
He has gone 24 consecutive games without a home run since Aug. 18, including postseason games.
The Dodgers have adjusted their batting order in the postseason, moving Ohtani from his customary leadoff spot to fourth or fifth in the lineup. The change has yet to produce a turnaround. Through Game 2 of the NLCS, Ohtani has gone 3-for-20 with seven strikeouts in the postseason, without a single extra-base hit.
The Dodgers’ consecutive losses to Milwaukee in Games 1 and 2 of the NLCS have also put their bid for a third straight World Series title in jeopardy. Calls to bench the struggling Ohtani have grown louder.
Rookie Josue De Paula has been mentioned as a possible replacement. He filled in for Ohtani in September when the star was placed on the injured list, posting a strong line of 10 hits in 31 at-bats, a .323 batting average, one home run and seven RBIs over 11 regular-season games.
After Ohtani returned, De Paula went back to the bench. In the postseason, he has made just three plate appearances, going 0-for-1 with two walks.
The Dodgers, however, have opted to give Ohtani another chance by keeping him in the starting lineup.