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With the Los Angeles Dodgers on the brink of elimination after falling into an 0-2 hole in the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Dave Roberts’ club urgently needs its biggest offensive star Shohei Ohtani to step up.
The Japanese superstar is mired in one of the worst stretches of his recent career. Since August 19, Ohtani has managed just one home run and one RBI, numbers that underscore a deep offensive crisis at the most critical point of the season.
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While he has shown occasional flashes, his lack of extra-base hits and power in October has become a major concern for a Dodgers team that relies heavily on its two-way star to reverse the series’ momentum.
What’s going on with Shohei Ohtani?
The central question surrounding the Dodgers right now is what has caused Ohtani’s prolonged offensive downturn.
Reported physical discomfort may be part of the explanation, but his at-bats reveal a player who simply does not look comfortable in the box. His mechanics, balance, and timing bear little resemblance to the dominant version that has dazzled baseball for years.
Faced with this situation, manager Dave Roberts may be forced to make difficult decisions, dropping Ohtani lower in the batting order or even giving him a day off. Keeping him in the cleanup spot is increasingly hard to justify if he continues to produce little impact with the bat.
During Game 2 against the Brewers, one particular plate appearance captured his current form: Ohtani looked off-balance and uncomfortable in the batter’s box, an unusual sight for one of the game’s elite hitters.
Shohei Ohtani’s numbers in his last 24 games (since August 19):
- Batting average: .157
- Strikeouts: 36
- On-base percentage: .286
- Home runs: 0
- RBIs: 1
- Hits: 14
OPS: .488
Ohtani’s offensive funk could not have come at a worse time. The Dodgers built much of their championship hopes around his extraordinary talent, and they now need their star to awaken if they hope to avoid the brink of elimination in the NLCS.