Dodgers Considering Sitting Shohei Ohtani For NLCS Game 3

The Dodgers are considering a dramatic change as they attempt to save their season.

Shohei Ohtani is no longer guaranteed to start Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, according to reporting from Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal.

Dave Roberts said he planned to speak with Ohtani on Tuesday before the Dodgers determine whether their superstar designated hitter should remain in the lineup.

“Obviously, it hasn’t been good,” Roberts said following the Dodgers’ 7-4 loss in Game 2. “He doesn’t feel great. I think for me, it’s having a conversation with him, kind of trying to figure out what’s best for him, what’s best for us.”

No decision has been announced.

The Dodgers are considering their options—not committing to sitting Ohtani.

Ohtani Has Struggled Throughout The Postseason

Ohtani went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts during Monday’s loss, leaving him 3-for-20 with seven strikeouts through the Dodgers’ first six postseason games.

All three of his hits have been singles.

He has not homered since August 18, a span of 24 games between the regular season and postseason.

His struggles have contributed to a larger offensive problem. Los Angeles is batting .193 during the postseason and has recorded only two hits in 26 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Ohtani is not solely responsible for those numbers. Will Smith, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and several other important hitters have also struggled to produce consistently.

But Ohtani occupies one of the most important positions in the lineup, and the Dodgers cannot ignore his inability to drive the baseball while they sit two losses away from elimination.

Health Appears To Be The Deciding Factor

A 20-at-bat postseason sample would not normally provide enough justification to remove a player of Ohtani’s caliber.

This decision is different because his struggles did not begin in October.

Ohtani has been managing problems with his left knee and right biceps for much of the second half. Continued biceps inflammation forced him onto the injured list in September, and he has not pitched since July.

He returned before the regular season ended, but the power that normally defines his offensive game has not followed.

Roberts saying Ohtani “doesn’t feel great” makes this more than a conversation about an ordinary slump.

If Ohtani is physically capable of producing his normal swing, the Dodgers have every reason to trust one of baseball’s most dangerous hitters. If the injuries are preventing him from turning on velocity or driving the ball, continuing to start him based solely on his reputation would not help Ohtani or the team.

That is why Roberts intends to include him in the decision.

Ohtani has earned the opportunity to explain exactly what he is feeling and whether he believes he can help the Dodgers in Game 3.

Josue De Paula Could Start At Designated Hitter

If Ohtani does not start, De Paula is reportedly the leading candidate to replace him at designated hitter.

The 21-year-old impressed during his September opportunity after being promoted directly from Double-A Tulsa. He reached base in half of his 42 Major League plate appearances and showed that he was not overwhelmed by the jump in competition.

De Paula has made only one postseason plate appearance, drawing a two-out walk during the ninth inning of Game 1 against Milwaukee.

Starting him in Game 3 would represent an enormous assignment.

The Dodgers will be facing left-hander Robert Gasser while attempting to avoid a 3-0 series deficit. De Paula would be stepping into Ohtani’s position in the lineup with the entire season moving toward a breaking point.

There is no guarantee he would outperform Ohtani.

But De Paula has displayed strike-zone discipline, energy and the ability to provide competitive at-bats. At this stage, the Dodgers must evaluate who gives them the best chance to produce Wednesday—not who owns the most impressive career résumé.

Moving Ohtani Down Remains Another Possibility

Sitting Ohtani is not the Dodgers’ only option.

Roberts could move him lower in the order, as he did during Game 3 of the NLDS against Chris Sale. Ohtani batted fifth that night, his lowest position since joining the Dodgers.

That would allow Los Angeles to keep his game-changing potential in the lineup while placing more productive hitters ahead of him.

The problem is that the Dodgers do not have many obvious answers.

Smith is 1-for-23 this postseason. Betts is 5-for-21 without an extra-base hit. Freeman has one hit over his last 11 at-bats. The Dodgers managed only three hits as a team in Game 2.

Changing one position cannot repair an entire offense.

Still, the possibility of sitting Ohtani demonstrates that Roberts is willing to consider something more significant than another minor adjustment to the batting order.

Our Take: The Decision Must Be Based On What Ohtani Can Do Now

Ohtani’s name cannot make this decision for the Dodgers.

Neither can his contract, regular-season production or past postseason accomplishments.

The only meaningful question is whether the current version of Ohtani gives Los Angeles a better chance to win Game 3 than its available alternatives.

If the Dodgers believe he is physically capable of producing a competitive swing, he should start. Even during a slump, Ohtani can change a game with one mistake from an opposing pitcher.

If his knee or biceps is materially limiting that swing, allowing him to rest is not disrespectful or an overreaction. It would be an acknowledgment that October decisions must be based on present ability rather than reputation.

The Dodgers should also avoid treating De Paula like a guaranteed solution. He is one of baseball’s most exciting prospects, but asking him to replace Ohtani in a near-must-win NLCS game is a tremendous burden.

This is not a simple choice between a struggling veteran and a productive replacement.

It is a judgment between an injured superstar’s upside and a talented rookie’s uncertainty.

Dodgers Cannot Afford Another Quiet Night

Los Angeles returns to Dodger Stadium trailing Milwaukee 2-0 after losing both games at American Family Field.

The Brewers bullpen has dominated the series, covering 9⅔ innings without allowing an earned run. In Game 2, four Milwaukee relievers combined to retire all 15 hitters they faced.

That places even more pressure on the Dodgers to score early against Gasser.

Blake Snell will start Game 3 for Los Angeles, but even a strong performance from Snell may not be enough without greater support from the offense.

Whether Ohtani starts or De Paula receives the opportunity, the Dodgers need someone to provide the extra-base damage that has been missing throughout October.

Roberts’ conversation with Ohtani will help determine who receives that chance.

The Dodgers have not decided to sit Shohei Ohtani. But the fact that they are seriously discussing it shows how urgent the situation has become. With Los Angeles trailing 2-0 and Ohtani clearly operating below his usual level, Game 3 decisions must be based on who can help the Dodgers right now—not what anyone has accomplished before.