NLCS notes: Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani’s status for Game 3

For the first time in five years, the Dodgers find themselves down two games to begin the National League Championship Series with the series headed back to Los Angeles.

The Dodgers offense has shown little to no fight in the series, with Game 2’s back-and-forth clash being the most exhilarating matchup so far. Their duo of bona fide aces, Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, have combined for just 7 2/3 innings on the mound while surrendering five earned runs.

Now the Dodgers will rely on both Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow to try and keep the chances at a three peat alive. Snell was shaky at best in his most recent outing against the Atlanta Braves, tossing 90 pitches over just 3 2/3 innings. Snell may have the pedigree from previous performances in the postseason, but his sole focus is the here and now in trying to lift the Dodgers from a two-game deficit, per Christina De Nicola of MLB.com.

“I don’t think about last year because it has nothing to do with this year,” Snell said. “It’s a completely different team. … This game and what it means to me, it hasn’t changed — 0-2, 2-0, it wouldn’t matter. I know what I need to do. I know what I need to do to win and dominate. I’m going to just focus on that.”

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In preparation for his start on Wednesday, Snell has noticed the small details that occur within and outside the Brewers’ dugout, per Thomas L. Murray of the California Post.

“I noticed how they talk, a lot of one-on-one competition is a key for them. The way Pat Murphy talks to the team is way different than last year,” Snell said. “So I understand that.”

Shohei Ohtani has endured in a nightmare of a postseason so far, going as far down as fifth in the lineup while struggling to the tune of a .150/.261/.150 slash line over six games. This slump has warranted Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times to suggest that Ohtani be removed from the lineup completely, as he demands in his latest column.