Shohei Ohtani drops to sixth as Dodgers face elimination
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Ohtani batted sixth in Game 3. It was his lowest spot as a Dodger.
- He went 1-for-4 in a 6-2 loss. The Dodgers now trail the series 3-0.
- A knee and biceps problem has hurt his swing for months. He says he can still help.
The Dodgers moved Shohei Ohtani down to sixth. It was a bold move for a star hitter. Ohtani had been stuck in a deep slump.
The change did not save Game 3. Milwaukee won 6-2. Los Angeles now trails the series 3-0.
What happened
Manager Dave Roberts set a new lineup for Game 3. Ohtani batted sixth. It was his lowest spot as a Dodger. He had batted sixth or lower 19 times with the Angels.
All of those came in 2020 or earlier. Roberts had even thought about benching Ohtani. In the end, he kept him in the lineup.
On Tuesday, Roberts said Ohtani felt close to a breakthrough. Ohtani told the team he felt good enough to play. Roberts said the new order gave the team its best balance.
He added that Ohtani backed the move. "Whatever it takes to win," Roberts said.
In baseball, the batting order lists who hits first, second, and so on. The top spots get the most at-bats. The sixth spot gets fewer chances.
Ohtani serves as the designated hitter. That means he bats but does not play in the field. The NLCS is the round before the World Series.
The winner goes to the World Series.
The Dodgers had lost the first two games. They scored just five runs in those games. They had only 10 hits in the two games.
Our NLCS Game 3 preview laid out the stakes before first pitch. Roberts made more changes too. Kyle Tucker moved up to fourth.
Andy Pages moved up to fifth. Will Smith dropped to seventh. Smith had started the playoffs 1-for-23. Miguel Rojas replaced Max Muncy at third base.
The move matched up against left-hander Robert Gasser. Roberts wanted to mix right- and left-handed hitters. The plan aimed to spark the offense.
Ohtani's Game 3 night was mixed. He flied out in the second inning. He was hit by a pitch in the fourth.
He walked in the sixth inning. He singled with two outs in the eighth. It was his lone hit of the night.
The Dodgers put runners on base in most innings. They still scored only two runs. After Game 3, Roberts said the Dodgers missed big hits at the right time.
The slump in numbers
Ohtani entered Game 3 hitting .150 in the playoffs. He had three hits in 20 at-bats. All three hits were singles.
He had no RBIs. He had struck out seven times. In Game 2, he went 0-for-4. He struck out twice in that game.
His last home run came on August 18. That was at Colorado. Since September 1, he had nine hits in 50 at-bats. That is a .180 average.
He had one extra-base hit in that span. He had one RBI in that span.
After Game 3, his playoff line reads .182. He has four hits in 22 at-bats. He has seven strikeouts and four walks. He has one stolen base.
He still has no home runs. He still has no RBIs. His OPS sits at .533. OPS is one number for overall hitting.
A higher number means better hitting.
The injury behind the slump
The slump sits on top of an injury problem. Ohtani has dealt with left knee and right biceps issues for months. He said before the last round that he was not 100% healthy.
On Monday, Roberts told The Athletic that Ohtani did not feel great. The knee flared up in July. The problem forced him to stop pitching.
He went on the 15-day injured list on September 11. He came back before the regular season ended. He hit .238 in five games after his return.
Ohtani says his symptoms have eased of late. He said his symptoms should not explain his poor hitting. He takes full responsibility for his play.
Ohtani said he has not found the root cause. He plans to study it in the offseason. For now, he must manage the problem.
He played 135 games this season. That was his fewest since he joined the Dodgers. He still hit 30 home runs.
He drove in 81 runs. He hit 26 doubles. He signed a $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers.
He went deep 54 and 55 times in his first two seasons with the club.
Why it matters
Ohtani is the Dodgers' biggest star. He is a four-time MVP. Teams build their lineup around him.
Dropping him to sixth sends a clear message. The Dodgers need runs now. They cannot wait for him to heat up.
The move also shows how much pressure Roberts faces. Los Angeles has won the last two World Series. A third title is the goal.
A 3-0 hole puts that goal at risk. They must now win four games in a row. Read our Teoscar Hernandez NLCS report for more on the Dodgers lineup.
The lineup change also shifted the load. Tucker now bats cleanup. Pages bats fifth.
The Dodgers need more from every spot. Ohtani's bat can still change a game. One swing can tie a game late.
But the Dodgers cannot count on that yet.
His health is the big question. A sore knee can hurt a swing. A sore biceps can hurt it too.
Ohtani says he can play through it. The next games will test that claim. The Dodgers' payroll gap with small-market teams is part of the wider story.
See our report on the MLB payroll gap.
Roberts said he saw a focused Ohtani in Tuesday batting practice. He said Ohtani stayed late to work on his swing. Teammate Mookie Betts said the pressure on Ohtani is hard to picture.
He said Ohtani must stay present in a big moment. Pitcher Tyler Glasnow said Ohtani stays steady no matter how he plays. He called Ohtani confident and steady.
What happens next
The Dodgers face Game 4 on Thursday. Tyler Glasnow is set to start. Los Angeles must win to stay alive.
A loss ends the season. A win keeps hope alive for one more day.
Watch Ohtani's spot in the order. Roberts may move him again. A good night could lift him back up.
Another quiet night could push him down more. Watch his swing too. Hard contact would be a good sign.
More soft outs would raise more doubts.
The Dodgers need their star to look like himself. They need him soon. Game 4 is a must-win game.
The season rides on it.
If Ohtani finds his swing, the Dodgers can still fight. If not, the series may end fast. Either way, Game 4 will tell us a lot.
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