Dodgers to discuss sitting Ohtani for NLCS Game 3 (report)
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MILWAUKEE -- Shohei Ohtani has not performed to his capabilities for more than two months. With the Dodgers down 0-2 in the NL Championship Series following a 7-4 loss to the Brewers on Monday, they will discuss benching him in Game 3 on Wednesday, according to a report from Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Ohtani has been managing lingering right biceps and left knee injuries since at least June, which landed him on the 15-day IL in September. The injuries began to have a notable impact on his production in early August. In his last 35 games, regular season and postseason, Ohtani is hitting .197 with a .629 OPS.
“Yeah I mean obviously it hasn’t been good,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told The Athletic. “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.”
The last time Ohtani homered was Aug. 18 at Coors Field, and he has driven in only one run since then. His 110 plate appearances without a home run, including the postseason, are a career high (previously 104 plate appearances from 2022-23).
This postseason, Ohtani is hitting 3-for-20 (.150) with no extra-base hits. He has struck out seven times and walked three times. While he began the NLDS hitting second in the order, manager Dave Roberts has since dropped him to the cleanup spot.
If Ohtani were out of the lineup for Game 3, that would likely open an opportunity for top prospect Josue De Paula to start at designated hitter. De Paula, MLB Pipeline's No. 4 overall prospect, was promoted to the big leagues directly from Double-A Tulsa when Ohtani went on the IL in September. He impressed in his brief stint with the Dodgers, reaching base in half of his 42 plate appearances.
De Paula made the postseason roster, but because his outfield defense is a weakness, he has been used exclusively as a bat off the bench. He has pinch-hit three times this postseason, drawing two walks. The only way for De Paula to see more playing time without compromising the Dodgers' defense would be at the cost of Ohtani's spot in the starting lineup -- and given Ohtani's struggles, it may be worth seeing what De Paula can do.