Dave Roberts Confirms Shohei Ohtani Stays in Dodgers Lineup for Game 3

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that slumping superstar Shohei Ohtani will remain in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday night, despite a prolonged postseason slump and lingering right biceps and left knee injuries.

Dave Roberts Confirms Shohei Ohtani Stays in Game 3 Lineup

The Los Angeles Dodgers will keep Shohei Ohtani in their starting lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night according to manager Dave Roberts. The decision arrived after the Dodgers fell into a 2-0 hole in the best-of-seven series following a 7-4 defeat on Monday at American Family Field.

Roberts told reporters on Tuesday that he held a conversation with Ohtani during the team’s off-day workout at Dodger Stadium. The manager felt confident in keeping the four-time Most Valuable Player in the batting order despite weeks of offensive struggles and questions regarding his physical health after a series of nagging injuries.

Roberts added that Ohtani expressed strong conviction about adjustments he is making in the batting cage. He’s close to finding something with his swing, Roberts said during Tuesday’s media availability. Before the decision was finalized, team president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and other club executives evaluated the situation while considering alternatives such as rookie prospect Josue De Paula.

Postseason Struggles and Physical Toll on Ohtani’s Bat

Ohtani enters Wednesday’s matchup batting just .150 with a .411 OPS through six postseason games, collecting three singles and three walks while striking out seven times in 20 at-bats without a single extra-base hit. His difficulties at the plate extend back well before October. He has not hit a home run since August 18 and has driven in only one run since August 19, going 14-for-90 over that span. Team figures show that over 24 available months of tracking data dating back to mid-2023, his recent metrics mark his least impressive output across multiple offensive categories. Teammates Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández acknowledged the difficulty of watching the star navigate his prolonged slump while noting the team’s reliance on his presence.

The physical toll stems from a series of ailments that sidelined Ohtani from pitching after July 3 due to left knee discomfort and right biceps soreness. He later spent two weeks on the injured list in September before returning for the final five games of the regular season without regaining his usual timing. Statcast metrics show him lagging against velocity, managing only one hit against pitches of 95 mph or faster since late September amid October fastballs averaging 96.2 mph.

“The symptoms shouldn’t be the reason why I can’t hit, and even if the injuries happen by accident, I take full responsibility. I take that as an opportunity for me to just take full responsibility for it. Today it’s going to be another process for me to tinker and try new things.”

Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter, via ESPN

Weighing Alternatives and Preparing for Game 3 at Dodger Stadium

Before confirming Ohtani’s spot in the lineup, Dodgers executives and coaching staff discussed whether to rest the superstar while facing a two-game deficit. Team sources indicated that rookie outfielder Josue De Paula stood ready as the primary option to take over at designated hitter if a change was made following his major league debut in mid-September.

De Paula made the postseason roster after impressing club officials with his plate discipline in Double-A Tulsa and drawing two walks in three pinch-hit appearances this month. But management ultimately chose to lean on their veteran star. At the end of the day, in this big moment, we’re listening to Shohei, and we’re going to support the crap out of him and believe in him, Roberts said as the team prepared for Wednesday’s contest.

The Dodgers send left-hander Blake Snell to the mound for Game 3 to face Milwaukee left-hander Robert Gasser at Dodger Stadium, where Ohtani is slated to hit somewhere between second and sixth in the order. History faces the defending champions with formidable odds, as teams dropping the first two games of a best-of-seven series on the road have historically advanced just 15.6% of the time.

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