The Los Angeles Dodgers currently hold a 2-1 advantage over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series, but superstar Shohei Ohtani has struggled mightily at the plate. Through the first three games, Ohtani has managed just one hit and one walk in 15 plate appearances, striking out seven times for a .071 batting average and a .205 OPS.
After Wednesday’s 8-2 loss in Game 3, manager Dave Roberts offered a blunt assessment of Ohtani’s performance. “I just think that his plate, his decision-making hasn’t been good,” Roberts said. “You can see, it’s balls in/off, and he’s really not giving himself a chance to hit a mistake. I just think that he’s in between a little bit, but the swing decisions are just not where they need to be right now. That’s kind of what I see, decision-making.”
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Left-Handed Pitching Part of the Challenge
Vote For Your Favorite Dodgers Duo: Ohtani – Yamamoto, Betts – Freeman, Hernandez – Hernandez
Ohtani has faced three excellent left-handed starters from the Phillies: Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, and Ranger Suárez. While Roberts acknowledged that tough pitching has contributed to Ohtani’s woes, he emphasized that there’s a larger issue at play beyond handedness.
Despite a .898 OPS against left-handers during the regular season, Ohtani has been unable to translate that success into the postseason. Phillies manager Rob Thompson praised Ohtani’s talent while acknowledging his own team’s pitching execution. “I really don’t want to comment on that because, I mean, he can explode at any time,” Thompson said. “He’s that great of a hitter. But we have pitched him well.”
Looking Ahead: Shohei Ohtani’s Next Steps
Ohtani is scheduled to pitch in a potential Game 5, but for Thursday’s Game 4, his focus will be on jumpstarting the Dodgers’ offense. Through 14 at-bats this postseason, Ohtani has managed just a single RBI and no extra-base hits, leaving the Dodgers in a precarious spot if their DH continues to struggle.
The path forward is clear: Ohtani needs to regain his usual plate discipline and capitalize on mistakes. With Sánchez starting again in Game 4, followed potentially by Luzardo in a Game 5, the Dodgers are counting on their two-way star to stabilize his performance at the plate while also preparing for a pitching role if the series extends.
Even in this slump, Ohtani’s track record suggests a turnaround is possible. If he can return to form, the Dodgers’ powerful lineup will be poised to overwhelm Philadelphia and take a decisive step toward the NLCS.