Shohei Ohtani did not hit well in the final month and a half of the regular season, and is 3-for-20 in October.
His swing just does not look right, and he is dealing with injuries, that have ended his season as a pitcher essentially. After the Dodgers Game 2 loss, Dave Roberts noted that the team would have a conversation with Ohtani and see if taking him out of the lineup was the right move. On Tuesday, he confirmed that Ohtani would be in the lineup for Game 3.
On Tuesday, Roberts told The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya that Ohtani was "adamant" he felt good enough to play and is close to breaking out of this slump.
“In this big moment, we’re listening to Shohei,” Roberts said. “And we’re supporting the crap out of him and believe in him.”
Roberts is trusting his superstar player, but the recent results indicate that might be a bad idea. It's not like Ohtani is a victim of bad luck and is making great contact with the ball. He simply has not been hitting the ball hard, and his swing looks anything but normal.
Ohtani has pushed back on the idea that his injuries are the reason for his woes, pointing more toward his mechanics. However, injuries can creep into mechanics whether he likes it or not. For him, he has dealt with upper-body and lower-body ailments this year.
Ohtani is not the only Dodgers star who is struggling in October, but this series is far from over, and Roberts knows that Ohtani is part of the solution to getting the offense back on track.
“I know that we’re better with him in the lineup,” Roberts said. “Everyone knows that. It’s no secret.”