The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing a critical decision ahead of Game 3 of the National League Championship Series after falling behind the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0. With the season in danger of ending, manager Dave Roberts must consider whether Shohei Ohtani should remain in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game.
According to The Athletic, the Dodgers will discuss benching Ohtani following prolonged offensive struggles and ongoing injury concerns. Los Angeles lost Game 2 by 7-4 on Monday, and Roberts later acknowledged that Ohtani has not performed well recently and indicated that he intends to speak with the superstar about the situation.
The conversation will focus on what is best for both the player and the team rather than simply maintaining his place in the lineup because of his status. Here, we look at whether it will be in the best interest for both Ohtani and the Dodgers for the four-time MVP to start Game 3 on the bench.
Why Dave Roberts should bench Shohei Ohtani for Game 3 against the Brewers
Ohtani's offensive downturn has coincided with physical problems that have affected him since at least June. He has been managing a lingering right biceps injury and a left knee injury, which resulted in a stint on the 15-day injured list in September.
Roberts, therefore, will not only be making the right decision for the Dodgers, but also Ohtani himself. Shotime is batting at .197 with a .629 OPS over his last 35 games, including the regular season and postseason. His last home run came on August 18 at Coors Field, and he has recorded only one RBI since then. He has gone 110 plate appearances without a home run, including the postseason, marking the longest such stretch of his career and surpassing his previous high of 104 plate appearances.
His postseason production has also been limited. Ohtani has gone 3-for-20, a .150 batting average, without an extra-base hit. He has struck out seven times and drawn three walks.
Further, the Dodgers have already adjusted Ohtani's role in response to his offensive struggles. He began the postseason batting second in the lineup but has since been moved to the cleanup position. That change means that Roberts has been willing to alter the lineup rather than leave Ohtani in his original spot. However, the move has not produced the desired results.
Article Continues BelowOhtani remains without an extra-base hit through his first 20 postseason at-bats, and his home run drought has continued. If the Dodgers decide to bench Ohtani, rookie Josue De Paula is the leading candidate to take over as the designated hitter.
De Paula was promoted directly from Double-A Tulsa to the major leagues in September when Ohtani went on the injured list. The rookie made an immediate impression, reaching base in half of his 42 plate appearances.
Roberts has multiple options. The first is to bench Ohtani for Game 3 and give De Paula the designated hitter position. This would allow Ohtani to rest his knee while giving Los Angeles an opportunity to test another hitter.
Roberts could also retain the option of using Ohtani as a pinch-hitter if the situation warrants it. Another option is to remove Ohtani from the starting lineup while retaining him as a pinch-hitter. This would allow the Dodgers to reduce his workload while preserving the possibility of using his bat in a crucial late-game situation. With the Dodgers trailing 2-0 in the NLCS, benching Ohtani could give him time to recover while allowing Josue De Paula to provide a fresh offensive option as Los Angeles fights to keep its season alive.