Shohei Ohtani enters the opening game of the National League Championship Series looking to break out of an uncharacteristic postseason slump, with the team pointing to his improved health as the key difference in turning his bat around.
Milwaukee Practice Prepares Dodgers for Postseason Rematch
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers square off once again in the National League Championship Series, with Game 1 of the best-of-seven series scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern Time in Milwaukee. Ohtani took the field for practice to prepare for the opener, still searching for the offensive rhythm that eluded him during the previous round.
Division Series Struggles Test Los Angeles Lineup
During the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, which Los Angeles won three games to one, Ohtani collected just two hits across 13 at-bats. He finished the four-game series without a single extra-base mark or run batted in, striking out four times and drawing two walks for an overall OPS of 0.421. Despite that quiet opening stretch, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman emphasized the team’s unwavering belief in their star player. 在我看來，大谷是全球最優秀的球員，總有一天他的狀況會突然爆發，一旦那一刻到來，對手就要大難臨頭了,
Friedman said, noting his view that Ohtani remains the premier player globally and opposing pitchers will face severe consequences once his bat ignites.
Health Status Marks the Crucial Shift From Last Autumn
Last autumn, after enduring a difficult stretch through the Division Series opener, Ohtani erupted in Game 4 of the NLCS by launching three home runs while tossing six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts on the mound. Team reports indicate that this year’s primary difference centers on his physical condition. Ohtani acknowledged before the Division Series that he had managed nagging right biceps and left knee ailments that affected him since June and contributed to his late-season offensive dip. Extra rest prior to the Division Series and a brief September stint on the injured list have restored his physical condition to near peak levels, though opposing pitchers continue to pitch around him carefully to avoid giving him hittable pitches.
Jacob Misiorowski Draws the Opening Assignment for Milwaukee
The Brewers turn to 24-year-old hard-throwing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski to start Game 1 on the mound. 還是要把大谷當作當今世上最強的打者來投球，相信自己的球路，正面對決擊敗他,
Misiorowski said of his approach against the reigning superstar, emphasizing that he plans to trust his own pitches and challenge him directly.
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