Shohei Ohtani Will Remain In Dodgers’ Lineup For NLCS Game 3
One day after his status for Game 3 appeared uncertain, Shohei Ohtani has made it clear that he wants the opportunity to help save the Dodgers’ season.
Dave Roberts confirmed Tuesday that Ohtani will remain in the lineup when Los Angeles hosts the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Wednesday night.
Roberts met with Ohtani after the Dodgers discussed potentially giving him the benefit of two consecutive days without playing. The idea was to combine Tuesday’s scheduled day off with a possible absence Wednesday, allowing Ohtani additional time to recover physically and reset his swing.
Ohtani convinced Roberts that the break was unnecessary.
“He’s adamant he feels good enough to be in there,” Roberts said. “He’s close to finding something with his swing, and I feel great about it. He wants to be in there and help us win a ballgame and win a championship.”
Ohtani’s exact position in the batting order remains undecided. Roberts said he could hit anywhere from second through sixth against Brewers left-hander Robert Gasser.
Roberts Says This Was Never About Benching Ohtani
Roberts made an important distinction when discussing the possibility of removing Ohtani from the lineup.
“It was never a benching,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers were considering a recovery period similar to the one Freddie Freeman received during the 2024 postseason while managing a badly sprained right ankle.
Freeman missed three games during that playoff run before returning to play throughout the World Series and earning World Series MVP honors.
The question for Ohtani was whether his right biceps and left knee were compromising him enough that two days away from game action could help him reset.
“If you’re not feeling good enough that you feel like you can perform up to your ability, then we’ll pivot,” Roberts explained. “We’ll give you a couple of days.”
Ohtani’s response removed that option from consideration.
Roberts said Ohtani expressed conviction that he is close to finding a mechanical adjustment and remains physically capable of helping the Dodgers win.
Ohtani Takes Responsibility For His Struggles
Ohtani has not attempted to use his physical condition as an excuse.
“The symptoms shouldn’t be the reason why I can’t hit,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “Even if the injuries happen by accident, I take full responsibility.”
Ohtani added that his swing remains a daily process involving different adjustments and sensations.
The results have been well below his normal standard.
Ohtani is 3-for-20 with three singles, three walks and seven strikeouts through six postseason games. He has not recorded an extra-base hit.
His struggles also extend beyond October.
Ohtani has not homered since August 18, a career-high drought of 110 plate appearances. He has driven in only one run during that stretch.
Across his last 35 games between the regular season and postseason, Ohtani is batting .197 with a .629 OPS.
Those numbers explain why the Dodgers at least considered giving him additional recovery time.
They also make his belief that a breakthrough is approaching especially important.
Dodgers Believe Ohtani Is Close Mechanically
Roberts said his confidence is not based solely on Ohtani insisting that he can play.
The Dodgers’ hitting coaches and training staff have also provided encouraging feedback.
“I think some of my intel is from the hitting guys and them kind of echoing the same thing—that Shohei is right where he needs to be,” Roberts said.
During recent batting-practice sessions, Roberts has seen Ohtani working to remain connected to the ground and keep his head still throughout his swing.
The goal is to simplify his movement, see the ball more clearly and allow his natural mechanics to take over.
Roberts said Ohtani appeared close to finding something during Game 2, even though he went hitless in four at-bats with two strikeouts.
Ohtani has taken on-field batting practice on four consecutive days entering Game 3. That is unusual for a hitter who generally prefers the controlled environment of an indoor cage or the Trajekt pitching machine.
He even squared around to bunt during an at-bat Monday, an indication of how willing he is to try something different to reach base and help the Dodgers.
Ohtani Is Not Completely Healthy
Roberts did not claim that Ohtani is operating at full strength.
“It’s everything,” Roberts said when asked what Ohtani is managing physically. “It’s the upper body. It’s the knee. He’s just not perfect. He’s not. But in his words, he’s ready to go.”
Ohtani has dealt with left-knee irritation and right-biceps inflammation for much of the season.
The knee problem ended his pitching season in July. The biceps inflammation later resulted in a September stint on the injured list.
Ohtani said his symptoms improved considerably while he was on the IL, but he continues adjusting his swing around what his body currently allows.
That does not necessarily mean he is incapable of producing. It means the Dodgers must accept that the version of Ohtani entering Game 3 may need to succeed differently than the fully healthy player they saw earlier in the season.
Roberts Heard The Conviction He Needed
Ohtani has not always been easy for the Dodgers to evaluate physically.
Andrew Friedman has previously acknowledged that Ohtani communicates with the club but may not always accurately assess his own limitations.
That history led reporters to question whether Roberts could confidently accept Ohtani’s answer.
Roberts said the difference was the conviction behind it.
“He was adamant that he can help us,” Roberts said. “He’s well enough to help us win a baseball game. That’s all I needed to hear.”
Roberts also emphasized that the Dodgers will support Ohtani regardless of the immediate result.
“He can go out there and get four hits or no hits,” Roberts said. “It doesn’t change our process and how we’re going about it and believing in him.”
Batting Position Remains Undecided
Although Ohtani will play, Roberts has not determined where he will hit.
The Dodgers are evaluating how their lineup matches up with Gasser and which Milwaukee relievers could follow him.
Roberts suggested Ohtani could appear anywhere from second through sixth.
Ohtani began the postseason batting second before moving to fifth against Chris Sale in NLDS Game 3. He has occupied the cleanup position in each of the Dodgers’ last three games.
Wherever Ohtani appears, the Dodgers need more than his presence.
They need production.
Los Angeles is batting .193 this postseason and has recorded only two hits in 26 at-bats with runners in scoring position. Ohtani is not the only accomplished Dodgers hitter struggling, but he remains the player most capable of changing the direction of a game with one swing.
Our Take: Ohtani Asked For The Opportunity—Now He Must Deliver
Starting Ohtani is a defensible decision.
The Dodgers were not considering replacing a healthy player because of 20 difficult at-bats. They were deciding whether an injured player would benefit from additional recovery time.
Ohtani said he does not need it.
His hitting coaches believe he is close to correcting his swing. The training staff supports his ability to play. Roberts heard the conviction he needed during their conversation.
At that point, the Dodgers were right to give one of the greatest players in baseball the opportunity to respond.
But the stakes cannot be ignored.
Milwaukee leads the series 2-0, and the Dodgers can no longer wait indefinitely for their lineup to begin performing. Ohtani does not need to win Game 3 by himself, but Los Angeles needs him to provide competitive at-bats and punish the pitches Milwaukee continues to challenge him with.
Ohtani has accepted responsibility for his performance.
Now he gets the opportunity he requested.
The Dodgers considered giving Shohei Ohtani two days to recover. Ohtani responded by making it clear that he wants to remain in the fight. He believes his swing is close, Roberts believes in him and Game 3 will give him the opportunity to prove both of them right.