Dodgers Weigh Benching Ohtani for NLCS Game 3 as 2-0 Deficit Deepens

Q: Will Ohtani's lingering injuries force Los Angeles to make the most controversial lineup change in recent playoff history?

Yes — if the Dodgers sit Shohei Ohtani for Game 3, it would rank among the most controversial playoff lineup decisions in recent memory, but the move would be grounded in performance and health, not panic. The case for it is unusually strong. Ohtani has been compromised by lingering right biceps and left knee injuries for weeks, and Dave Roberts has acknowledged that he “doesn’t feel great.” The production drop is severe: over his last 35 games, regular season and postseason combined, Ohtani is hitting .197 with a .629 OPS, has not homered since Aug. 18, and has driven in only one run in that span. In this postseason, he is 3-for-20 with no extra-base hits. The Dodgers also have an immediate competitive reason to act. Down 0-2 in a best-of-seven series, they need healthier at-bats and more on-base traffic. Roberts already tried a softer adjustment by dropping Ohtani in the order, but the slump continued. If the injuries are affecting his bat speed, balance and strike-zone control, leaving him in simply because of his stature risks sentiment overriding evidence. That said, “force” may be too strong unless Ohtani and the medical staff agree he is truly limited. Roberts has also stressed that Ohtani remains a threat and has earned a voice in the decision. Benching a four-time MVP in October would be stunning, but with Josue De Paula available as a DH option, Los Angeles now has a plausible alternative. If the Dodgers make the move, it will be controversial — and defensible.

3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Oct 13

Dave Roberts said Los Angeles will decide Wednesday whether Shohei Ohtani should sit for NLCS Game 3, with the Dodgers facing elimination pressure after falling behind Milwaukee 2-0.
Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 because of left knee and right biceps issues, and the club now fears those injuries are also sapping his bat.
Through 24 postseason plate appearances, Ohtani is hitting .150 with no extra-base hits; since his last homer on Aug. 18, he has batted .156 over 107 plate appearances.
Underlying contact metrics have also fallen sharply, with his xwOBA dropping to .270 from .370 and his barrel rate sliding to 15.1% from 26.2%.
Josue De Paula, a 21-year-old rookie who hit .303/.401/.547 at Double-A, is the likely replacement as teams down 2-0 after opening on the road have won just 15.6% of best-of-seven series.