Los Angeles managed just three hits in a 7-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, leaving the Dodgers down 2-0 in the NLCS. The result has put a possible lineup change in play: manager Dave Roberts said Shohei Ohtani does not feel great and that he planned to discuss with him what is best for the player and the team.
The Dodgers are considering holding Ohtani out of the lineup for Game 3, according to Sporting News. Roberts said Ohtani “doesn’t feel great” and that he planned to speak with the four-time MVP on Tuesday. The New York Post reported that Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic had also reported Roberts was weighing the move.
A Postseason Slump That Won't Break
Ohtani has struggled at the plate this postseason. Sporting News put him at 3-for-20 with seven strikeouts through six games, while the Post reported a 3-for-20 line through seven playoff games. The accounts differ on the game count, but both describe a .150 average; he has yet to record an extra-base hit. Ohtani has not homered since Aug. 18, the longest drought of his season.
Monday’s game added to the Dodgers’ offensive frustrations. Milwaukee’s bullpen retired 12 consecutive Dodgers and threw five perfect innings as Los Angeles finished with three hits, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Brewers out-hit the Dodgers 12-3. Ohtani struck out against left-handed reliever JoJo Romero in the sixth inning after attempting a leadoff bunt.
Injuries Have Shadowed The Season
The Post’s report places Ohtani’s slump amid physical issues during the season, including bicep and knee problems. He missed part of September with knee trouble that had first surfaced over the summer; Sporting News also cited the issue in reporting on his lineup absence during that stretch. After going an extended period without driving in a run, he landed on the injured list a few days after Sept. 7. He returned roughly two weeks later and recorded an RBI in his second game back.
Si.com has also noted Ohtani’s physical issues as context for his postseason struggles. His production is a contrast with last October, when he posted 10 strikeouts but also hit three home runs against the Brewers in Game 4 of the 2025 NLCS.
Series history and Ohtani’s postseason record
The available historical figures are for best-of-seven postseason series overall, not NLCS matchups specifically. MLB.com reports that teams leading 2-0 have won 79 of 95 such series; in the current 2-3-2 format, teams holding that lead at home have won 46 of 57. Those results offer context for the Dodgers’ 0-2 deficit, not a prediction for this series. For a recent postseason benchmark, MLB.com’s Dodgers player profile says Ohtani hit 11 home runs in 17 postseason games in 2025, including three multi-homer games. That record describes his production last postseason, not the cause of his current slump.
Who Steps In If Ohtani Sits
If Ohtani sits, rookie Josue De Paula could be an option at designated hitter, according to Sporting News. De Paula, MLB Pipeline’s No. 4 overall prospect for 2026, is on the Dodgers’ 26-man NLCS roster. The 21-year-old made his MLB postseason debut in Los Angeles’ 3-1 NLDS win over the Atlanta Braves.
Roberts’ conversation with Ohtani is still to come as the Dodgers try to avoid falling into a 3-0 hole. Whether the team makes a change at designated hitter will depend on what Roberts and Ohtani decide is best for Game 3.
