Dodgers consider benching Ohtani for NLCS Game 3 amid health concerns

The Los Angeles Dodgers are evaluating whether to bench Shohei Ohtani for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) following a 7-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2. The defeat puts the Dodgers in a 2-0 hole in the best-of-seven series as it shifts to Dodger Stadium.

Ohtani's Health and Performance

Shohei Ohtani went 0 for 4 in Game 2, bringing his postseason total to three hits in 20 at-bats. He has not hit a home run since August 18. Manager Dave Roberts indicated that Ohtani "doesn't feel great" and that a conversation would take place on Tuesday to determine "what's best for him, what's best for [the team]."

According to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly, Ohtani likely is not completely healthy. He has dealt with left knee and right biceps issues for much of the season. It remains unclear whether his poor performance is due to health, bad swing habits caused by earlier injuries, or a combination of both. Ohtani has not addressed the media since the day before Game 1 of the division series.

Teoscar Hernández acknowledged the team's reliance on Ohtani, stating, "We obviously need his help. He’s a big, big part of this team, and it’s really important. And I feel bad for him. I know what he’s capable of. He’s been dealing with some stuff in the past. We don’t know if it’s still there. But it’s Shohei. Any moment he can come through."

Game 2 Recap and Bullpen Struggles

The Dodgers' loss was compounded by a short start from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who lasted just 2⅔ innings. This was the shortest start of Yamamoto's Dodgers career. The Brewers' bullpen threw five perfect innings, setting a postseason record. Freddie Freeman noted the difficulty of facing the Brewers' relievers, saying, "They all throw 100 [mph] from different angles."

The Dodgers managed only three hits in the game. Mookie Betts, who had been setting the tone from the leadoff spot, struggled against Brewers right-hander Abner Uribe. Left-hander Aaron Ashby struck out Freeman on four pitches in the eighth inning.

Lineup Implications

If Ohtani is held out, rookie Josue De Paula would likely take his place as the designated hitter. De Paula made his debut in September when Ohtani was placed on the injured list. Roberts has been flexible with Ohtani's lineup placement this postseason, batting him second, fourth, and fifth, noting, "I haven’t settled on that... But it’s probably somewhere between one and five, I would say, or two and five."

Why it matters

The Dodgers' ability to score against the Brewers' bullpen is critical to their chances of evening the series. With the NLCS moving to Los Angeles, the team must regroup and address individual performance issues. Mookie Betts emphasized the need for unity, stating, "The guys in here are really good at staying together... I think we just need to regroup and figure out what we need to do individually. But there’s no doubt."

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Sources

• latimes.com: Dodgers will consider sitting Shohei Ohtani after Game 2 NLCS loss - Los Angeles Times
• sportingnews.com: Dodgers could make shocking Shohei Ohtani decision ahead of NLCS Game 3 | Sporting News
• truebluela.com: Dodgers NLCS Game 1 lineup vs. Jacob Misiorowki: Shohei Ohtani bats 4th | True Blue LA

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.