Shohei Ohtani prefers to work indoors, away from public view, but his recent batting practice on the field at Dodger Stadium has become a sign of how deep his slump runs. The session came on an off day in an NLCS where the Los Angeles Dodgers trail the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0, and it was his fourth straight day hitting outdoors.
After a conversation with manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani insisted he was "close to finding something" and should stay in the lineup. Roberts said there is "complete conviction" that Ohtani is onto something. With the Dodgers' season on the brink and their bid for a third straight NL championship slipping away, the team is relying on that belief.
The numbers are stark. Ohtani has not homered since Aug. 18 and has posted a .156/.283/.200 slash line since, with three extra-base hits and one RBI. He is 1-for-7 in the NLCS, and a scout said, "Right now he just can't" make adjustments. Insiders describe his swings as late on fastballs and helpless against breaking balls.
His struggles trace back about four months, to a left knee problem in early June that limited him as a pitcher, followed by right biceps tightness. His offense held up until mid-August, then fell off sharply. The Dodgers and Ohtani finally put him on the injured list after Labor Day, leaving only five regular-season games to prepare for the playoffs.
Source: ESPN MLB · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing