The Los Angeles Dodgers are in a deep, deep hole, down 0-2 in the NLCS to the Milwaukee Brewers, and their superstar designated hitter, Shohei Ohtani, is still nowhere to be found at the plate. This isn’t just a cold streak. Seriously, Ohtani hasn’t hit a home run since August 18. That’s wild for a guy like him. His postseason numbers are brutal, hitting just .150 with a .411 OPS, and he’s 1-for-7 in this series with three strikeouts already. It’s no surprise his injury issues have been well documented, and that stint on the injured list near the end of the regular season? Clearly not enough.
Roberts Weighs the Unthinkable With Ohtani’s Slump
Manager Dave Roberts is feeling the heat, and he’s not shying away from it. After Game 2, he admitted, “Yeah, I mean, obviously it hasn’t been good. He doesn’t feel great.” That’s a huge statement about Ohtani. Roberts confirmed he’s going to have a conversation with Ohtani today, Tuesday, to “kind of try to figure out what’s best for him, what’s best for us.” He added that Ohtani “certainly has earned that conversation and deserves it.” What’s “best” might just be the unthinkable: benching one of baseball’s biggest stars. Talk about high stakes.
De Paula Waiting in the Wings as Dodgers Face Elimination
Benching Ohtani, even with his struggles, is a massive risk. We’re talking about a player who, even when he’s not 100 percent, can change a game with one swing of the bat. But, let’s be real, he’s clearly not right. He’s battling injuries and probably fighting a mental slump, too. Good thing the Dodgers have Josue De Paula on the roster ready to serve as the designated hitter. De Paula was phenomenal in the regular season when Ohtani was out. He even drew a walk in the ninth inning of Game 1 as a pinch hitter. The kid has great discipline at the plate and could be a much needed bat against a Brewers pitching staff that has been dominant so far. The Dodgers are two losses away from elimination, with Game 3 or 4 putting them in an incredibly tough spot. There’s only ever been one 3-0 comeback in MLB history, and only 14 3-1 comebacks. This team needs a spark, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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