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.”
Find Your Qualified Amazon Prime Trial
Select your category below to unlock your specific free trial and discounted membership rate:
Prime for Young Adults
Included with Prime for Young Adults:
- Fast, Free Delivery: Unlimited Same-Day, One-Day, and Two-Day Delivery on millions of items.
- Unlimited Streaming: Prime Video with award-winning Originals, movies, and live sports.
- $0 Food Delivery Fees: Free Grubhub+ membership included (save ~$120/year).
Amazon Prime (Standard)
Included with Amazon Prime:
- Fast, Free Delivery: Unlimited Same-Day, One-Day, and Two-Day shipping options.
- Instant Entertainment: Award-winning TV shows, movies, music, and photo storage.
- Full Access to Alexa+: AI assistant for entertainment, deals, and smart home tracking.
Amazon Prime Access
- Full Prime Benefits: Free shipping, Prime Video, and exclusive shopping deals.
- No Long-Term Commitment: Cancel or pause membership anytime.
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.”
More MLB: History Not On Dodgers’ Side As They Try To Overcome 0-2 Deficit