Shohei Ohtani has powered the Dodgers all season, but the playoffs have told a different story. The two-time MVP has been nearly invisible in the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
After Wednesday night’s 8-2 loss, Ohtani’s line reads just one hit in 14 at-bats with seven strikeouts. For a player who hit .282 with 55 home runs and 102 RBIs during the regular season, those numbers are hard to ignore.
Manager Dave Roberts didn’t sugarcoat things when asked about his star’s slump. “His decision-making hasn’t been good,” Roberts said after the game, via the Associated Press. “He’s chasing pitches and not getting himself into good counts.”
Pressure Mounts as Dodgers Lean on Their Star
The Dodgers still lead the series 2-1, but Ohtani’s struggles have become impossible to overlook. His power carried Los Angeles through the Wild Card round, where he hit two home runs and drove in four runs. In the NLDS, though, he’s looked off-balance and hesitant. Words rarely used to describe him.
Phillies manager Rob Thompson praised his team’s approach but knows the danger of underestimating Ohtani. “He can explode at any time,”Thompson said. “He’s that great of a hitter.”
Still, Roberts’ comments suggest a sense of urgency. The Dodgers can’t afford a quiet Ohtani if they want another deep postseason run. His presence alone changes how teams pitch to L.A., but right now, pitchers aren’t afraid to attack him.
As the series moves to Game 4, Ohtani faces one of the rarest challenges in his career: proving that even superstars have to adjust when the pressure is highest.
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