The Los Angeles Dodgers just got absolutely swept out of the 2026 MLB postseason by the Milwaukee Brewers, crushing their shot at a third consecutive World Series title. It all came crashing down with a 6-4 loss in Game 4 of the NLCS on Thursday night, and star slugger Shohei Ohtani, usually a postseason hero, saw his performance drop off a cliff right when they needed him most.
A Postseason OPS That Hurts to Look At
You know how good Shohei Ohtani usually is, right? His career OPS sits at a ridiculous .948, but this postseason was a different story entirely. The dude limped to a .631 OPS, a steep drop that’s just wild to see from a four-time MVP. He managed a three-run homer in that final Game 4, sure, but that was pretty much it for the fireworks. Over the entire playoff run, he went just 5-for-26 at the plate, with only one dinger and three RBI total. Compare that to his 2024 and 2025 World Series runs: 34 combined playoff games, 11 homers, 24 RBI, and a .248/.390/.550 slash line. He was a key piece of their batting order during those championship seasons, but he simply wasn’t able to keep that level of production this year, and man, it was disappointing to watch.
Roberts Almost Pulled The Plug
It got so bad that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was apparently considering benching Ohtani. Seriously! After the Brewers took a 2-0 lead in the NLCS, Roberts was weighing Ohtani’s struggles alongside his overall injury concerns before ultimately deciding to keep him in the lineup. And yeah, the injuries were definitely a thing. Ohtani, who is 32, missed just over two weeks leading into the playoffs because of lingering left knee and right biceps issues. Plus, he previously stopped pitching back in July after dealing with left knee inflammation. So maybe there’s a reason for the performance drop, but when you’re chasing a three-peat, you need your stars to be stars, injured or not.
So there it is. The Dodgers’ dynasty dreams are officially toast, thanks to that brutal Brewers sweep. Ohtani’s struggles, coupled with the injuries, just weren’t what you expect from a player of his caliber when everything’s on the line. What a tough, unexpected way for their season to end.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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