Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will wait until Tuesday’s practice to determine star designated hitter Shohei Ohtani’s status for Game 3 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers. But he should have already seen all that he needs to see.
As stunning as it is to consider, much less write, if they plan on saving their season, it’s time the Dodgers bench the four-time MVP.
Shohei Ohtani’s struggles should leave manager Dave Roberts with an easy choice entering must-win NLCS Game 3
During Monday’s 7-4 Game 2 loss in Milwaukee, Ohtani continued a rough postseason, going 0-for-4 at the plate with two strikeouts. In six playoff games, the six-time All-Star is slashing .150/.261/.150 with seven strikeouts while only reaching base six times (three hits, three walks).
If the slump was contained only to October baseball, that would be one thing. Last season, for instance, Ohtani was hitting .147 with four more strikeouts (15) than total bases (11) through Game 2 of the NLCS. He caught fire over L.A.’s final nine games, however, producing an absurd .382/.523/1.059 slash line with eight strikeouts and 10 extra-base hits, including six home runs.
That version of Ohtani could lift the Dodgers out of the 0-2 series deficit. But that’s not who’s stepping into the batter’s box.
As MLB.com’s Sonja Chen wrote, Ohtani has dealt with right biceps and left knee injuries “since at least June.” A 15-day stint on the injured list in September was designed to give him a ramp-up period to get in rhythm for the playoffs, but the struggles have only continued. Since a four-hit game against the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 17, Ohtani has played in 25 games (including playoffs) and is hitting .158 with 37 strikeouts across 95 at-bats.
“It hasn’t been good,” Roberts told The Athletic following the Game 2 loss. Insiders Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal shared that rookie Josue De Paula, who made his MLB debut on Sept. 11 and hit .323 in 11 regular-season games, would be Ohtani’s likely replacement if he’s pulled from the lineup.
“I think for me, it’s having a conversation with him tomorrow, kind of try to figure out what’s best for him, what’s best for us,” Roberts added, evaluating his next steps with Ohtani. “He certainly has earned that conversation and deserves it.”
ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez reported that Ohtani’s availability will hinge on his health. “If he feels good enough to play,” Gonzalez wrote, “the plan is to continue playing him.”
But it shouldn’t be up to whether Ohtani is healthy enough to play. The Dodgers, halfway to being swept, don’t have the luxury of waiting for him to revert back to his MVP form. His struggles this season against Brewers Game 3 starter Robert Gasser, who held him without a hit in seven plate appearances, should make Roberts’ decision easier. For the rest of the NLCS, Ohtani’s greatest value may come from remaining in the dugout.