Shohei Ohtani, the superstar everyone expects to rake, is officially dropping to fifth in the Dodgers’ lineup for Game 3 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves. Yeah, you read that right, *fifth*. This isn’t just a minor shuffle; it’s his lowest spot in a lineup since he was hitting a measly .190 over 44 games back in 2020 for the Angels. Talk about a statement from manager Dave Roberts.
Ohtani’s Slump Gets a Spotlight
Let’s be real, Ohtani’s offensive slump has been impossible to ignore. We’re talking just eight hits and a .211 batting average over his last 10 games. That’s not the Ohtani we know, right? He’s been consistently struggling to get anything going at the plate, and in a high-stakes playoff series, you can’t have that from one of your biggest bats. It makes sense, too, when you remember he was on the IL in September dealing with lingering left knee and right biceps injuries, even though he got activated before the postseason started.
In a direct swap, Teoscar Hernández is moving up, and honestly, can you blame them? Hernández is straight up raking, hitting .267 with 16 home runs and 64 RBIs on the year. That’s production you need at the top of the order, especially when someone like Ohtani is fighting it. The new top five? It’s Mookie Betts, Hernández, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, and then Ohtani. That’s a serious power lineup, but it shows just how much the Dodgers are trying to ignite some middle-of-the-order fire.
Facing Sale and the Playoff Heat
This isn’t just any game, either. It’s Game 3 of the NLDS, and the Dodgers are up against Braves ace Chris Sale. Now, Sale has been Ohtani’s kryptonite in the past. In 15 plate appearances against the lefty, Ohtani is a dismal 3-for-15 with five strikeouts and a .517 OPS. That’s brutal. So, prioritizing lineup balance and consistency, especially when your star is struggling against *this specific pitcher*, becomes absolutely essential.
Shifting Ohtani down to fifth is a bold move by Dave Roberts, no doubt about it. You’ve got to respect the call to shake things up against a formidable Braves pitching staff. If Ohtani was looking for a wake-up call, Roberts and the Dodgers coaching staff just delivered it with a thunderous clap.
All eyes will be glued to that new-look lineup Tuesday night. The Dodgers are looking to grab a crucial 2-1 series lead over the Braves, and how Ohtani responds from that fifth spot could very well dictate the momentum of the entire series. This is playoff baseball, baby, and it’s getting spicy!
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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