Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Shohei Ohtani will be in the lineup for Game 3 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night. Roberts was adamant that the four-time MVP feels good enough to play.
There was speculation that the Dodgers were considering benching Ohtani, who has struggled throughout the playoffs.
Ohtani has been managing lingering right biceps and left knee injuries since at least June, which landed him on the 15-day IL in September. The injuries began to have a notable impact on his production in early August. In his last 35 games, regular season and postseason, Ohtani is hitting .197 with a .629 OPS.
The last time Ohtani homered was Aug. 18 at Coors Field, and he has driven in only one run since then. His 110 plate appearances without a home run, including the postseason, are a career high (previously 104 plate appearances from 2022-23).
This postseason, Ohtani is hitting 3-for-20 (.150) with no extra-base hits. He has struck out seven times and walked three times. While he began the NLDS hitting second in the order, Roberts has since dropped him to the cleanup spot.