Shohei Ohtani is officially staying in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the news Tuesday, putting an end to some serious talk about benching the four-time MVP.
The Bench Talk Was Seriously Real
Yeah, you read that right. Roberts had been considering pulling Ohtani from the starting lineup. Why? Well, Ohtani’s been battling health issues all regular season, and his bat hasn’t exactly been on fire to start the playoffs. When you’re a four-time MVP, you expect to dominate, but it just hasn’t clicked for him lately, and the team’s obviously noticed.
Ohtani’s “Very Convicted” Stance Wins Out
So, what changed Roberts’ mind? According to MLB.com’s Sonja Chen, Ohtani was “very convicted” and “adamant” that he felt good enough to play and that he was close to turning things around. You gotta respect that kind of self-belief, especially when the stakes are this high. It sounds like Ohtani basically told his coach, “Nah, I got this.”
This Game 3 is absolutely massive. The Dodgers are already down 2-0 in the series against the Brewers, and trailing like that is brutal. With Ohtani’s health concerns all year and his struggles at the plate in these playoffs, you just have to hope his conviction translates to some serious production. It’s basically do-or-die now, and the pressure is squarely on Ohtani to deliver for his team.
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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