Shohei Ohtani staying in Dodgers lineup for Game 3 vs. Brewers despite brutal slump appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Rumors have swirled over the past 24 hours about the Los Angeles Dodgers possibly benching Shohei Ohtani for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series amid his concerning performance at the plate. On Tuesday, manager Dave Roberts shut down the rumors by confirming that Ohtani will be in the Dodgers’ Game 3 lineup, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports. Some have wondered if injuries are impacting Ohtani’s performance, but according to David Vassegh of Dodger Talk, Roberts said Ohtani was “adamant” that he is healthy.
Unless Ohtani was battling a truly concerning injury, the idea of Ohtani getting benched never seemed especially realistic. Sure, his performance has been brutal so far this postseason. He’s hitting just .150 with a .150 OPS and no extra-base hits through six games played.
However, Shohei Ohtani is the best player in the sport when he is on top of his game. His ceiling makes him far too valuable to remove from the lineup. One good at-bat could turn everything around for Shohei.
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The Brewers know how talented Ohtani is. They are still treating him like a true superstar.
If the Dodgers are going to bounce back in the series, they will need Ohtani to find some level of consistency. While LA features a deep roster, the ball club’s lineup has struggled and it needs a spark. A big Ohtani game could provide the momentum the team needs.
The Brewers hold a 2-0 lead in the NLCS over the Dodgers at the moment after taking the first two contests in Milwaukee.
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