The Los Angeles Dodgers are weighing whether to bench superstar Shohei Ohtani for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Following a 7-4 loss in Game 2 that left the team facing a 2-0 series deficit, manager Dave Roberts confirmed he will meet with Ohtani on Tuesday to discuss his health and status for the upcoming matchup, The Athletic reported. The club is attempting to become the first team to win three straight World Series since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees.
The Decision-Making Process
Benching the four-time MVP is not a decision left solely to the field manager. According to reporting from The Athletic, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman will be involved in the evaluation, alongside other key members of the organization. The discussions center on whether Ohtani’s ongoing physical limitations—specifically discomfort in his right bicep and left knee—are hindering his ability to contribute effectively at the plate. Ohtani has been nursing these specific injuries since at least June, with continued biceps soreness leading to an injured list stint late in the regular season. He has not pitched since July 3 and was officially shut down from throwing on September 7.
“Yeah, I mean obviously it hasn’t been good,” Roberts told The Athletic. “He doesn’t feel great. I think for me, it’s having a conversation with him tomorrow, kind of try to figure out what’s best for him, what’s best for us. He certainly has earned that conversation and deserves it.” Roberts added, “I’ll have (that conversation) with him tomorrow.”
Ohtani’s Postseason Struggles
Ohtani’s production has dropped significantly during the playoffs. Through six postseason games, he is 3-for-24 with seven strikeouts and no extra-base hits, according to data from theScore. His OPS has slid to .411 following a 0-for-4 performance in Game 2, where he also struck out twice. In that same game, Los Angeles started ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who lasted only 2.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits with two walks and one strikeout. Milwaukee’s offense, led by William Contreras and Christian Yelich, successfully pressured the Dodgers’ bullpen from the start, while the visiting lineup managed only three hits total.
He has not hit a home run since August 18, a drought spanning 24 games. Ben Verlander, host of the Flippin' Bats podcast, shared footage of Ohtani striking out against Brewers reliever JoJo Romero during Monday's contest.
Potential Lineup Shifts
If the Dodgers determine that Ohtani is not healthy enough to play, rookie Josue De Paula is the primary candidate to take over at designated hitter, The Athletic reported. De Paula, who entered the 2026 season ranked as a top 25 prospect by CBS Sports, MLB.com, Baseball Prospectus, and Baseball America, slashed .303/.401/.547 in 124 games for Double-A Tulsa this year. Since being called up in September, he has recorded a 1.081 OPS in limited action.
Mookie Betts acknowledged the difficulty of the situation following Monday’s loss. “It’s hard to see,” Betts told reporters, as noted by theScore. “He’s working, and hopefully he gets out of it. We know he’s working. That’s a big one. We need him for sure.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Why hasn’t Shohei Ohtani pitched in the postseason?
Ohtani was shut down from throwing on September 7 due to lingering right bicep and left knee discomfort. He has not pitched in a game since July 3.
What is the Dodgers’ current standing in the NLCS?
The Dodgers trail the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0 in the best-of-seven series. Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.
Has Ohtani been moved in the batting order previously?
Yes. During the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, Ohtani was moved to the No. 2 spot, then dropped to fifth for Game 3, and batted in the cleanup spot for Game 4. It was the first time he batted lower than second since joining the Dodgers in 2024.
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