The Los Angeles Dodgers moved Shohei Ohtani back to the leadoff position for Game 4 of the NLCS. The team trails the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 and faces elimination.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have restored Shohei Ohtani to the leadoff spot in their batting order for Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. The Dodgers trail the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 in the best-of-seven series and must win four consecutive games to reach the World Series.
Manager Dave Roberts moved Ohtani back to the top of the order after the player batted sixth in a 6-2 loss on Wednesday. This was the lowest position Ohtani has occupied since joining the Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season. Roberts stated that he did not inform Ohtani of the change before posting the lineup.
"Just seeing the work the last couple days, I like where his head is at," Roberts said. "I liked the at-bats yesterday. Obviously we haven’t performed the way that we’re capable of, so to kind of shake it up a little bit but something that’s of somewhat normalcy that our guys are used to."
Roberts cited Ohtani’s work ethic, noting that the player stayed until 9 p.m. on Tuesday to work on his swing. "Baking all that in, I felt absolutely, put him at the top," Roberts said. "I feel good about him taking five at-bats and giving us our best chance to win and produce runs."
Ohtani has dealt with injuries to his left knee and right biceps for several months. According to Bleacher Report, Ohtani has not been a regular leadoff hitter since Sept. 2, the day before he revealed he was dealing with a right biceps issue in addition to a lingering left knee problem. These injuries have prevented him from pitching since early July.
Ohtani’s batting average in the postseason stands at .182, with no home runs or RBIs in seven games, according to Bleacher Report. In Game 3, he went 1 for 2 with a walk. Yahoo Sports reported that Ohtani has refused to use injuries as an excuse for his performance.
The Dodgers’ lineup underwent significant changes following the Game 3 loss. Mookie Betts, who led off in Game 3, moved to No. 2, while Freddie Freeman shifted to No. 3. Will Smith moved up to fourth from seventh. Kyle Tucker hit fifth, Teoscar Hernández went to sixth, Miguel Rojas hit seventh, and Andy Pages dropped to eighth. Kiké Hernández hit ninth.
The Brewers are starting left-hander Shane Drohan, who is making his postseason debut. Yahoo Sports noted that the Brewers are expected to utilize a bullpen game, which may limit Drohan’s innings. The Dodgers’ Game 4 is set to start at 8 p.m. ET in Los Angeles.
The Dodgers are facing elimination in the NLCS. Restoring their star player to his customary leadoff position represents a strategic attempt to revitalize an offense that has struggled against the Brewers' pitching. The outcome of Game 4 will determine whether the series continues or ends with Milwaukee advancing to the World Series.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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