The Los Angeles Dodgers are in a deep hole, staring down a 2-0 deficit in the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, and they’re throwing everything at the wall for Game 3 at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. The biggest bombshell? Shohei Ohtani, one of the game’s biggest stars, is sliding all the way down to sixth in the lineup. Yeah, you read that right. Sixth.
Ohtani’s Bat on Ice: Can a Mechanical Fix Turn the Tide?
It’s an unbelievable move for Ohtani, who hadn’t hit this low in the lineup since way back in September 2020 when he was still an Angel, and hadn’t even dropped below second until Game 3 of the NLDS. You know it’s getting desperate when you’re moving a talent like that. Ohtani, to his credit, was “adamant” about playing in Game 3, and manager Dave Roberts ultimately gave him the green light. Roberts is talking a big game, saying Ohtani “feels good enough to be in there” and is “close to finding something with his swing.” He even added, “He was very convicted that he is onto something mechanically. He was adamant that he can help us. He’s well enough to help us win a baseball game. So that’s all I needed to hear.” But let’s be real, his bat has been ice cold. Since his last regular season home run on August 18, Ohtani has been an “offensive detriment,” slashing a painful .150/.261/.150 with zero RBI through six playoff games. That’s rough, man. You gotta hope Roberts’ gut feeling is right, because they need him to find that magic *now*.
The Climbers: Tucker and Pages Step Up to the Plate
With Ohtani dropping, someone has to pick up the slack, and the Dodgers are betting big on Kyle Tucker and Andy Pages. Tucker, after a pretty rough regular season, has caught fire in October, hitting an impressive .300/.391/.500 with a homer and two RBI over six games. He’s getting rewarded for that, moving up to cleanup in the lineup, his highest spot this postseason. He’s also got a good history against Milwaukee’s Game 3 starter, Robert Gasser, with three hits in six at-bats, including a bomb. Andy Pages is another guy who’s been impressing. Remember last year’s “historically awful title run” at the plate for him? Yeah, he’s definitely turned that page. The 2026 All-Star has five hits in 20 at-bats this postseason, with huge moments like his go-ahead, two-run single in NLDS Game 4 and getting the Dodgers on the board in NLCS Game 1. Even though he’s gone hitless since that Game 1 RBI single, he’s moving up to fifth in the order, also his highest spot this postseason. That’s a huge show of faith in these guys, and they’ll need to deliver against Gasser.
Smith Slides, Rojas Starts
It’s not just Ohtani feeling the heat. Will Smith, who’s also “struggled mightily” this October, is sliding down to seventh in the lineup. Filling in at third base over Max Muncy against the lefty Gasser will be Miguel Rojas. These are big changes for a team that desperately needs to spark an offense that has been missing in action. The Dodgers need a win, badly, to stay alive.
Game 3 is Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are down 2-0, and these lineup shuffles are their desperate gamble to kickstart a comeback. Can Ohtani “find something” with his swing, or will the red-hot bats of Tucker and Pages be enough to get them back in this series? It’s do or die time, and you know the pressure is absolutely insane.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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