Facing elimination and trailing three games to none against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Los Angeles Dodgers restored Shohei Ohtani to the leadoff spot as manager Dave Roberts altered the lineup in a bid to stave off a series sweep.
The Dodgers entered the crucial postseason contest on the brink of elimination, carrying a daunting 2.4 percent historical probability of overcoming a 0-3 series deficit. Only one team in baseball history has successfully rallied from such a deep hole in a seven-game series, a feat achieved by the Boston Red Sox in 2004 across 42 prior instances.
Dave Roberts Explains the Decision to Move Ohtani Back to Lead Off
During the team’s struggles in Milwaukee, Ohtani had been dropped as low as sixth in the order during Game 3—his first time hitting in that slot since May 31, 2021, when he played for the Angels. That contest saw him reach base four times via two walks and a single, yet the team fell to a 0-3 series hole.
SHOHEI OHTANI HITS ONE OUT OF DODGER STADIUM. pic.twitter.com/LC93DjY27U
With Milwaukee deploying a bullpen game for the fourth matchup, Roberts decided to put his superstar back in the first spot. The manager pointed to positive indicators observed during private batting sessions and the player’s work ethic. I put the effort he put in, staying at the ballpark until 9 p.m. the last two nights, and his performance in the batter’s box yesterday into consideration, Roberts explained to reporters.
My decision is clear: to have him bat first. I feel very confident that this gives us the best chance to win today and score more runs.
For the fourth game of the series, the complete Dodgers starting lineup featured Mookie Betts at shortstop, Freddie Freeman at first base, Teoscar Hernández in left field, Kyle Tucker in right field, Andy Pages in center field, Shohei Ohtani as the designated hitter, Will Smith at catcher, Miguel Rojas at third base, and Tommy Edman at second base.
Physical Toll and the Struggle at the Plate
The offensive slump surrounding the star has drawn scrutiny throughout October. Over his first seven postseason appearances covering 22 at-bats, Ohtani managed four hits for a .182 batting average, lacking extra-base hits while striking out seven times and drawing four walks. An earlier stretch saw him go 110 plate appearances without hitting a home run, his longest dry spell since coming to Major League Baseball.
Speculation over his physical condition mounted after a summer marked by injuries. A left knee issue requiring an MRI scan in June was followed by right biceps tightness on July 3 that ended his pitching season, alongside neck stiffness in September. While media outlets and commentators questioned whether he should remain in the starting lineup, Ohtani dismissed the notion that his health excuses his lack of production.
If you ask me why I’m not hitting well, I can only say it’s a matter of my own ability. It’s not because of physical symptoms that I can’t get hits. I think this falls entirely within my own capability.
Milwaukee Brewers Respect the Threat Despite Slump
Across the diamond, Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy made it clear that his pitching staff would treat the struggling slugger with caution. Reflecting on Ohtani’s performance against them in the previous year’s postseason, Murphy noted that the player remains a dangerous presence regardless of recent statistics.
You never easily forget a player who has heavily punished you, Murphy remarked ahead of the game. With the Brewers standing one win away from their first pennant since 1982, the pressure shifted to Los Angeles to break through against a visiting pitching staff that held their lineup to minimal extra-base hits across the first three games.