Shohei Ohtani will bat sixth for the Dodgers in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. This is the lowest position Ohtani has held in the postseason, as he previously batted fourth in the first two games of this series. Ohtani had been moved to fifth during the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves.
Joining Ohtani in the lineup shuffle is catcher Will Smith, who will drop to seventh. Smith has struggled this postseason, managing only one hit. Meanwhile, Kyle Tucker, who is hitting .300 in the postseason, will move to the fourth spot in the batting order. Andy Pages, who has been effective in scoring situations, bats fifth.
Dodgers’ Game 3 Lineup:
- Mookie Betts SS
- Freddie Freeman 1B
- Teoscar Hernández LF
- Kyle Tucker RF
- Andy Pages CF
- Shohei Ohtani DH
- Will Smith C
- Miguel Rojas 3B
- Tommy Edman 2B
- Blake Snell LHP
There is criticism of the Dodgers for not sticking to their regular season strategy of prioritizing player health. They did not allow Ohtani the needed rest over the summer. Now, they must rely heavily on his performance despite his physical issues.
Manager Dave Roberts expressed confidence in Ohtani continuing to play. Despite nagging injuries to Ohtani’s right biceps and left knee, Roberts plans to keep him in the lineup, emphasizing Ohtani’s own insistence that he feels well enough to contribute. Ohtani acknowledged the challenges he faces but stressed the importance of adjusting his approach to manage symptoms and maintain performance.
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