The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly considering a significant change to their lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers: potentially benching star Shohei Ohtani. This comes as the team faces a must-win situation in the series and Ohtani’s performance has noticeably dipped over the last few months.
Following Monday's Game 2 loss, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged Ohtani’s struggles. Roberts indicated to The Athletic that he would have a conversation with Ohtani, stating, “Yeah, I mean obviously it hasn’t been good.” He added that Ohtani “doesn’t feel great” and that the discussion would aim to determine what is best for both the player and the team, noting Ohtani had earned and deserved that conversation.
Ohtani's postseason statistics have been a cause for concern among fans and the team alike. Through six postseason games, he is hitting just 3-for-20, with all three hits being singles. He has struck out seven times. His last home run was on August 18 against the Colorado Rockies. Since then, his performance has continued to slump, with a .156 batting average, three extra-base hits, and 36 strikeouts in 90 at-bats. Since August 19, across 24 games, he is batting .157 with no home runs and only one run batted in, alongside 36 strikeouts.
According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo, the decision to potentially bench Ohtani involves more than just a conversation between the manager and the player. They reported that no formal decision has been made, and any choice regarding Ohtani’s playing time would also include president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, among other key personnel.
This consideration marks a stark contrast to the team's outlook heading into the NLCS. Before the series began, Roberts expressed confidence that Ohtani would eventually improve, noting that his talent and dedication meant he would “come to life” at some point. Friedman had also previously lauded Ohtani as “the most talented player who has ever played this game,” despite acknowledging that he had been “going through it over the summer” and had developed “some bad habits.” However, Ohtani has yet to deliver a significant moment, leading to the current deliberations.
Should the Dodgers proceed with benching Ohtani for Game 3, rookie Josue De Paula is the leading candidate to take over the designated hitter spot. The Brewers are scheduled to start left-handed pitcher Robert Gasser in Game 3, which could prompt the Dodgers to favor a right-handed heavy lineup. A team source, speaking anonymously, indicated that De Paula would be the top choice.
De Paula previously stepped in when Ohtani was placed on the injured list in September. During that period, the team's top prospect demonstrated strong performance, hitting .323 with one home run and seven RBIs across 11 games, along with an impressive 1.081 OPS. He has also shown promise this postseason, drawing two walks in three plate appearances.
