Los Angeles Dodgers manager was right on Tuesday when he said that Shohei Ohtani would remain in the team’s lineup for Game 3 of the NLCS on Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The lineup was released Wednesday afternoon, and it showed Ohtani batting sixth. This is the lowest that he has ever appeared in a batting order during his professional career.
Ohtani will follow Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker, and Andy Pages, and bat ahead of Will Smith, Miguel Rojas, and Tommy Edman.
Roberts said after his team’s loss in Game 2 that they would discuss what is best for Ohtani, as the slugger is just 1-for-7 at the plate through two games of the series, which the Milwaukee Brewers lead 2-0.
“Yeah, I mean, obviously, it hasn’t been good. He doesn’t feel great. 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. He certainly has earned that conversation and deserves it.
“I’ll have [that conversation] with him tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I mean, obviously, it hasn’t been good. He doesn’t feel great. 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. He certainly has earned that conversation and deserves it.
“I’ll have [that conversation] with him tomorrow.”
Ohtani reportedly said that he was “very convicted” about improving and “adamant” that he feels good enough to play, per MLB.com’s Sonja Chen.
Following Roberts’ announcement, the designated hitter spoke to the media through interpreter Will Ireton. He said, in part, “I take full responsibility. … The symptoms shouldn’t be the reason why I can’t hit.”
Ohtani spoke about how his injuries have improved. “The symptoms have subdued a lot, especially when I was on the IL,” he said. “As of now, the swing is a daily process of trying different things.”
Ohtani’s struggles have not been limited to this series, where he is 1-for-7 with three strikeouts. Ohtani is 3-for-20 with three walks and seven strikeouts in the postseason. He hasn’t registered an extra-base hit, as all three of his hits have been singles. Over his six postseason games so far, he is slashing just .150/.261/.150.
The Dodgers slugger missed much of the final month of the regular season with knee and biceps injuries. Since Aug. 14, he slashed .198/.305/.363 in his final 23 regular-season games.
Ohtani was added to the IL in September and didn’t play from Sept. 9 to Sept. 23. When he was activated, he was still dealing with issues. He admitted ahead of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves that he would need to “manage” both injuries through the playoffs.
The Dodgers’ designated hitter hit fourth in the series opener, but then was dropped to a previously career-low fifth in the order for Game 2.
The NLCS is a best-of-seven series, which heads to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Wednesday.
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