Dodgers confirm Shohei Ohtani will start in NLCS Game 3
Manager Dave Roberts said the two-way star will bat sixth in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series as Los Angeles trails the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced that Shohei Ohtani will remain in the lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Roberts said Ohtani is "very convinced" and "adamant" that he feels ready to play, according to MLB.com reporter Sonja Chen.
When the lineup was released, Ohtani was placed in the sixth spot. Roberts had previously indicated he was weighing a benching decision after Ohtani dealt with knee inflammation, a right-biceps issue and a slump at the plate during the regular season and the start of the playoffs.
The Dodgers are down 2-0 in the series. Ohtani told MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, through an interpreter, that his injury-related symptoms have "subdued" recently and that he takes full responsibility for his performance.
Ohtani appeared in 135 regular-season games, his fewest since joining the Dodgers in 2023. He missed time after being placed on the 15-day injured list on Sept. 11 but returned before the season ended, finishing with a .238 average in five games. In the postseason he has a .150 batting average and a .411 OPS over six contests, going 1-for-7 with three strikeouts in the first two NLCS games.
Despite the recent struggles, Ohtani posted 26 doubles, 30 home runs and 81 RBIs during the regular season. The Dodgers will need his production to avoid a 3-0 deficit and keep alive their bid for a third straight World Series title.