Is Shohei Ohtani the best player in MLB? The answer is obvious. Yes, there is no one bigger than the Japanese player in the Major Leagues today. However, his level has decreased in the playoffs, his performance has been very different from what he showed during the regular season. That is why the star must improve certain points in his game as soon as possible if the Dodgers are to overcome a tough opponent like the Brewers.
Sure, they won the first of their National League Championship Series clashes, but the score and margin were extremely low against Milwaukee. That’s why the team’s manager, Dave Roberts, is not mincing words. His message to Los Angeles’ superstar is clear: things have to change. Game 2 will take place on Tuesday, October 14, starting at 8:08 p.m. ET.
Shohei Ohtani must be aggressive in the strike zone and improve against left-handed pitchers
After a sensational regular season, Ohtani dominated both on the mound and at the plate: his October story has been a nightmare. In the Division Series against the Phillies, he went 18-1 with nine strikeouts, a shocking drop-off and at the worst possible time. However, the Dodgers ended up advancing, but Roberts made sure everyone knew that those numbers would not be enough to keep going in.
“We’re not going to win the World Series with this kind of performance,” Roberts said, according to Bill Plunkett. He mentioned that Ohtani needs to control his aggressiveness outside the strike zone and also improve against left-handed pitchers. And now, even the experts are questioning Ohtani and whether he can get red hot this month. Many doubts, yes, which the players will be able to solve for us during the clashes for the National League Championship Series.
David Schoenfield of ESPN questioned Ohtani’s October spark: “We’re about to witness Shohei Ohtani’s October breakout: Verdict: Not real“. Schoenfield noted Ohtani’s struggles against high-velocity pitching, particularly against arms that average 97 mph or more. And here’s the kicker: this is something Milwaukee has plenty of, such as Jacob Misiorowski, Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby.
Freddy Peralta seeks ‘revenge’ against Dodgers
According to AlBat, Dominican Freddy Peralta is on fire and hungry for revenge. In his eighth season in the Major Leagues, the Milwaukee Brewers ace had a great year: a 17-6 record, a 2.70 ERA and he surpassed 200 strikeouts for the fourth consecutive season (204 in total). A dominance that has him poised to finish among the top three finalists for the National League Cy Young Award.
And now, with the spotlight of autumn upon him, Peralta is gearing up for one of the most anticipated matchups of the National League Championship Series (NLCS). He will be the one to start Game 2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday at American Family Field, where Milwaukee will be looking to tie the series and keep alive their hopes of reaching the World Series.
Before the game, the Dominican right-hander issued a direct warning to the Los Angeles rivals. In words reported by MLB.com, Peralta recalled Milwaukee’s painful elimination in the 2018 Playoffs, when the Dodgers knocked them out in seven games. “This team is different,” said the pitcher with a calmness that sounds more like a promise than a simple phrase, making it clear that he has not forgotten that wound.
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