One round of the playoffs down, two to go, and Shohei Ohtani still looks nothing like Shohei Ohtani.<\/p>\n
The Dodgers have moved him around their lineup<\/a> almost on a game-by-game basis, as if they\u2019re looking for a place to hide him without embarrassing him. If they really believe that \u201cit\u2019s going to click for him\u201d<\/a> at some point, as president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the other night, they have a strange way of showing it.<\/p>\n Statistically, Ohtani was in an even worse place last October, as he batted .121 over an eight-game stretch early in the postseason. The Dodgers kept Ohtani in his customary leadoff spot and he blasted three home runs <\/a>in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. He went on to homer three more times in the World Series. Sticking by Ohtani was an easy decision then, as the Dodgers were certain his problems were mechanical and not physical.<\/p>\n Los Angeles Dodgers\u2019 Shohei Ohtani reaches for his waist after taking a swing during an at-bat in the eighth inning in Game 3 of baseball\u2019s National League Division Series as Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts kneels by the plate Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo\/Brynn Anderson<\/p>\n As much as Friedman and others have claimed that\u2019s also the case this year, how they have used him indicates they are exaggerating, if not downright lying<\/a>, about how confident they are <\/a>about the health of his right arm and left knee.<\/p>\n Ohtani could also be experiencing discomfort in other areas of his body. <\/p>\n Last month, before Ohtani was placed on the injured list<\/a>, he was known to be dealing with discomfort in his hip and neck. This week, in his final at-bat in Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, he grabbed his lower back after fouling off a pitch.<\/p>\n Heading into the NL Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers<\/a>, Ohtani is 2 for 13 without any extra-base hits in this postseason.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n So, what now?\u00a0<\/p>\n What do the Dodgers have to do with Ohtani?<\/p>\n The simple answer: Nothing different.<\/p>\n No need to drop him any further than fourth or fifth in the lineup. No need to replace him as the starting designated hitter. No need to shut him down.\u00a0<\/p>\n Keep running him out there \u2013 but not because manager Dave Roberts said that Ohtani is \u201cgoing to come to life.\u201d Ohtani last homered on Aug. 18, and it would be unrealistic to count on him to start launching balls into the stands again.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what Ohtani is doing: He\u2019s reaching base.<\/p>\n Los Angeles Dodgers\u2019 Shohei Ohtani (17) strikes out on a foul tip against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning of an MLB National League Division Series playoff game at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. Mike Zarrilli\/UPI\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n He was on base at least once in every one of the four games of the NLDS. In 16 plate appearances, he walked twice and got on base a total of five times.<\/p>\n That\u2019s an incredibly low bar for a four-time MVP, but that\u2019s not how Ohtani should be judged right now. Rather, he has to be evaluated as one of the team\u2019s 26 active players.<\/p>\n For a pitching-dependent team that isn\u2019t expected to score runs in bunches \u2013 they averaged 3.5 runs per game in the NLDS \u2013 Ohtani is contributing enough offensively. He might be missing hittable pitches and reaching for too many that are outside of the strike zone, but opposing pitchers continue to treat him with a certain level of respect. That\u2019s worth something, and it would be naive to think replacing him with Josue De Paula <\/a>would represent an upgrade.<\/p>\n In the series-clinching win over the Braves on Wednesday, Ohtani drew a second-inning walk against starter Tyler Mahle, then stole second base. A resulting errant throw by Braves catcher Sean Murphy allowed Ohtani to advance to third base, from which he was able to score when shortstop Maurico Dub\u00f3n dropped a popup<\/a> by Max Muncy in shallow left field.<\/p>\n The run tied the game, 1-1.\u00a0<\/p>\n Los Angeles Dodgers\u2019 Shohei Ohtani (17) advances to third base after an error by the Atlanta Braves during the second inning in Game 4 of a baseball National League Division Series in Atlanta, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. AP Photo\/Colin Hubbard<\/p>\n If Ohtani hadn\u2019t scored, the game would have taken on an entirely different feel, as the Dodgers would have spent the night chasing the Braves instead of attempting to just wear them down.<\/p>\n In the game before that, Ohtani reached base on a catcher\u2019s interference call to load the bases against Chris Sale. The Dodgers failed to score that inning, as Miguel Rojas lined out for the third out, but the plate appearance was nonetheless productive in that it elevated Sale\u2019s pitch count and stressed the former Cy Young Award winner.<\/p>\n Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/p>\n California Post News: Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, X<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, WhatsApp<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> Sale, who pitched a complete-game shutout against the Dodgers in late August, was removed from the game after just five innings.<\/p>\n So, there\u2019s nothing wrong with Friedman\u2019s insistence that Ohtani will continue playing in the upcoming NLCS against the Brewers.<\/p>\n Whether Ohtani is hitting or not, the best version of the Dodgers\u2019 lineup has him in it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani celebrates winning Game 4 of baseball\u2019s National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo\/Mike Stewart<\/p>\n And while he might be incapable of being a consistent threat in these playoffs, who\u2019s to say he won\u2019t run into a pitch in a critical moment?\u00a0<\/p>\n At this point, his chances aren\u2019t any worse than any of his potential replacements.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t
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