Shohei Ohtani is straight-up struggling at the plate for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and it’s got them playing serious catch-up after dropping Game 1 of the NLCS to the Milwaukee Brewers. This is a guy who’s won MVP four times, right? Two in each league! But his bat has just gone ice cold when the Dodgers need him most. Now they’re already down a game heading on the road for Game 2, and Ohtani is looking like the make-or-break factor they desperately need to turn this thing around against the Brewers.
The Cold Truth: Ohtani’s Bat Goes Missing
It’s wild to even say it, but the numbers don’t lie. Ohtani is hitting a dismal .188 with just three measly hits across 16 postseason at-bats. That’s leaving a massive, gaping void right at the top of the Dodgers’ lineup, and you can feel the pressure mounting. Alex Rodriguez highlighted just how valuable Ohtani is to this Dodgers squad, saying it’s not just that his offense is struggling, but they’re missing his complete presence on the field. Think about it: his raw power, that high batting average, his ability to create scoring chances on the basepaths. When that’s gone, it’s not just one thing. A-Rod put it perfectly: “As far as Ohtani goes, the thing why he’s so valuable is you’re not just missing power or batting average or running the bases or stealing bases. You’re missing all of it. Plus his presence in the lineup.” That’s the cold truth right there.
Jeter and A-Rod Weigh In: Can L.A. Bounce Back?
Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez dove into Ohtani’s quiet postseason on the “MLB on FOX” post-game show, and while they both agreed the Dodgers are capable of taking control in Game 2, the Ohtani factor is huge. Jeter said, “They need Shohei Ohtani if we’re going to see the Dodgers at full strength.” He knows it’s tough to just “flip a switch,” but he thinks the Dodgers won’t let it get to them mentally. “I don’t think it’s easy to flip a switch, but they don’t have to flip a switch mentally because mentally you walk into that clubhouse, I bet they have the same demeanor as if they won Game 1 because they’ve been here before.” That’s veteran insight right there, understanding the team’s mental toughness. Still, A-Rod thinks the Dodgers could still win this series, even with Ohtani struggling. His idea? Drop Ohtani lower in the batting order, maybe the fourth or fifth slot, to take some of that pressure off. Ohtani did make a good play going first to third in Game 1, so the athleticism is still there. But A-Rod stressed that Ohtani is “one very hard person to replace,” and if he can’t get back to his usual form, the rest of the lineup has to seriously step up to make up for it.
Game 2 is coming fast, and all eyes are going to be on that Dodgers lineup. Do they move Ohtani down? Does someone else step up huge? The stakes couldn’t be higher.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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