Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani has been moved down to the sixth spot in the batting order due to a severe slump. The Dodgers, facing elimination after two consecutive losses in the National League Championship Series (NLCS), are making changes to their lineup in hopes of a turnaround.
According to reports from Reuters and MLB.com, Ohtani will bat sixth as the designated hitter in Game 3 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. This marks the first time Ohtani has batted sixth since his time with the Los Angeles Angels in 2020, and it is his first time in this position since joining the Dodgers.
Ohtani has struggled significantly, posting a .197 batting average and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .629 over his last 35 games, including the regular season and postseason. He has not hit a home run in 110 consecutive at-bats since August 18 against the Colorado Rockies, setting a personal record for the longest stretch without a home run, surpassing his previous record of 104 at-bats from 2022 to 2023.
In the postseason, Ohtani has managed just three hits in 20 at-bats, resulting in a .150 batting average. All three hits have been singles, and he has struck out seven times. In the second game of the NLCS, which the Dodgers lost 4-7, Ohtani went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Since June, Ohtani has been dealing with injuries to his right biceps and left knee. He stopped pitching after July 3 and spent about two weeks on the injured list in September. Although he returned to play five regular-season games, he has not regained his hitting form.
MLB.com analyzed Ohtani's struggles, attributing them to a 'late swing timing.' According to Statcast data cited by MLB.com, Ohtani has swung late on 37% of four-seam fastballs and sinkers during the postseason, significantly higher than the MLB average of 25%. This is the highest percentage recorded for Ohtani since mid-2023.
Additionally, the point of contact for Ohtani has shifted closer to his body. During the postseason, he has made contact about 22 inches (56 cm) in front of his body, down from his usual 27 inches (69 cm), indicating a delay in the timing of his swing.
His ability to handle fast pitches has also declined sharply. Ohtani had a .280 batting average and a .441 slugging percentage against pitches over 95 mph (about 153 km/h) until August 18, but since then, including the postseason, he has dropped to a .036 batting average and a .071 slugging percentage.
However, analysis suggests that Ohtani's bat speed is not the issue. MLB.com noted that his bat speed is among the fastest this season, indicating that the delay in his swing initiation is a key factor in his struggles against fast pitches.
Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates mentioned at the start of the postseason that Ohtani is overcoming some physical issues, stating, "Now the challenge is to adjust his timing to various pitch speeds."
It remains unclear whether injuries are the direct cause of his struggles. MLB.com pointed out that the critical question is whether Ohtani is unable to regain his usual timing due to physical limitations or if he has not regained his game sense after returning from injury. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged after Game 2 of the NLCS that Ohtani's recent performance has not been good, saying, "It's clear he hasn't been right. His physical condition is not good either."
As Ohtani's slump continues, there were discussions about possibly excluding him from the starting lineup for Game 3. Some suggested giving him a rest and using rookie prospect Josue De Paula as the designated hitter. However, Ohtani expressed his desire to play. Roberts explained that after discussing with Ohtani, he felt that Ohtani was in good enough shape to participate in the game.
Roberts stated that the decision to change Ohtani's batting order was made with the overall balance of the lineup in mind, and Ohtani agreed with the change. With the Brewers starting left-hander Robert Gasser, the Dodgers aim to balance their lineup with both left and right-handed batters.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are in a tough spot, having lost both Games 1 and 2 against the Brewers, trailing 2-0 in the series. To mount a comeback in their quest for a third consecutive World Series title, the Dodgers need a resurgence from Ohtani and the rest of their key hitters.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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