The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their dominance in the NLCS on with a 5-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, grabbing a 2-0 series lead.
The win was marked by a dominant pitching performance from Yoshinobu Yamamoto and timely hitting from key Dodgers players, signaling their determination to defend their World Series title.
Yamamoto delivered a brilliant complete game performance. Over nine innings, he allowed just three hits and one run while striking out seven Brewers batters.
His calm and controlled approach on the mound kept Milwaukee‘s offense largely in check, helping the Dodgers maintain their grip on the series.
While the Dodgers looked composed and efficient, the Brewers struggled to generate momentum at the plate. Milwaukee‘s lineup was stifled by strong Dodgers pitching, leaving the Brewers frustrated and searching for answers as they fell behind 0-2 in the best-of-seven series.
While the Dodgers‘ victory put them two wins away from another World Series appearance, the conversation postgame largely centered on Ohtani, and not for the right reasons.
The superstar slugger, who entered the postseason as an MVP favorite, continues to slump at the plate. He’s now batting just .193 in the playoffs, going 5-for-34 overall.
Ohtani‘s timing has appeared off throughout the postseason, especially against left-handed pitchers – an issue that’s plagued him since the start of the NLDS. While he finally recorded an RBI on Tuesday, fans and critics have shown little patience for his inconsistent performances.
Fans take aim at Ohtani amid cold streak
Ohtani did manage to break through with an RBI single during Tuesday’s game, but it wasn’t enough to silence the critics who have been vocal on social media.
Fans have taken to platforms like X to poke fun at his slump, with some joking that he might be “betting against himself” or questioning whether opposing pitchers have “figured him out” by exploiting his weakness with low and away pitches and varying speeds.
Some harsh opinions labeled him as the “biggest postseason fraud ever,” while others expressed disappointment over his apparent inability to perform consistently against lefties.
The critiques highlight the growing frustration as the Dodgers lean on their star player to elevate his game.
Before the series began, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts emphasized that the team’s chances of winning another World Series hinge on Ohtani‘s contributions.
So far, the Dodgers have managed to pull through without consistent production from their two-way superstar, but it’s clear that his offensive resurgence will be critical if Los Angeles wants to close out the series and capture back-to-back championships.
As the NLCS continues, all eyes will remain on Shohei Ohtani, hoping he can shake off his slump and help lead the Dodgers deeper into October glory.
Read the full article here
