Dodgers Considering Drastic Move with Shohei Ohtani
- On Tuesday, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the team is weighing whether to bench four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani for Wednesday's pivotal Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
- Ohtani has struggled significantly during the 2026 postseason, batting.150 with seven strikeouts and no extra-base hits across six games, following lingering knee and biceps injuries that previously forced him to stop pitching.
- The $700 million MVP has managed only three singles in 20 postseason at-bats, prompting Roberts to state, "It's not what we all expect, what he expects from himself."
- If the Dodgers proceed with benching Ohtani, rookie Josue De Paula is the top candidate to start as designated hitter against Brewers pitcher Robert Gasser, having drawn two walks in three plate appearances.
- Facing a 2-0 series deficit, Los Angeles requires a spark to avoid elimination, as president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman expressed confidence in Ohtani's talent while emphasizing the team's need to win games.
19 Articles
19 Articles
The Dodgers' performance in front of the Beer Bullpen on Monday revealed the extent to which star-packed alignment has not worked well, with Shohei Ohtani struggling to bat.
[OSEN=Jo Hyung-rae] Ultimately, they may have to make the decision to remove Shohei Ohtani from the starting lineup. That is how poor Ohtani's condition is. On the 3rd (KST), the Dodgers lost 4-7 to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the 2026 Major League Baseball National League Championship Series held at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Having suffered two losses in the series, the Dodgers
Dodgers having ‘conversation’ to bench Shohei Ohtani amid slump, inury woes in NLCS
The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing a 0-2 deficit in the NLCS and could do the unthinkable. According to Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic, manager Dave Roberts is considering benching Shohei Ohtani, who is in the midst of an egregious slump. “Yeah I mean obviously it hasn’t been good,” Dodgers manager Dave...
Shohei Ohtani Benching Considered amid MLB Playoff Struggles & Injury, Dodgers' Dave Roberts Says
The Los Angeles Dodgers are searching for answers after falling behind 2-0 to the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, and that could result in the benching of arguably the best player in baseball.
Shohei Ohtani has the most embarrassing strikeout of the playoffs
Shohei Ohtani continues to look compromised out there. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Ohtani had another rough showing during Monday’s Game 2 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers. Ohtani once again went hitless (0-for-4) and struck out twice on the day. During the sixth inning at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisc., Ohtani produced …
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