The Los Angeles Dodgers are staring down a 0-2 hole in the National League Championship Series, and now they're reportedly weighing a move that would send shockwaves through the baseball world: benching Shohei Ohtani.
According to The Athletic, the Dodgers are seriously considering sitting the four-time MVP for Wednesday's Game 3 against the Milwaukee Brewers. The news comes after Los Angeles dropped both opening games of the series at home, leaving their season on the brink.
Ohtani, who has battled through injuries all year, has looked nothing like the superstar who terrorized pitchers for most of the regular season. He hasn't homered since Aug. 18, and since then he's hitting a meager .157 with just one RBI. His struggles at the plate have been so pronounced that his usual presence in the lineup no longer strikes fear into opposing pitchers.
Speaking with The Athletic after the Dodgers' Game 2 loss, manager Dave Roberts didn't rule out the possibility of giving Ohtani a day off, saying he plans to have a conversation with the star about what's best for both the player and the team.
“Yeah, I mean, obviously it hasn’t been good,” Roberts said. “He doesn’t feel great. I think for me, it’s having a conversation with him tomorrow, kind of try to figure out what’s best for him, what’s best for us. He certainly has earned that conversation and deserves it. … I’ll have [that conversation] with him tomorrow.”
The Dodgers have plenty of talent and postseason experience waiting in the wings, and some believe a brief reset could help Ohtani recalibrate with the season on the line. But benching a player of his caliber would be one of the biggest storylines of this postseason, and it's a decision that could define Los Angeles's title hopes.
Fans are already reacting to the news, with Dodgers' Game 1 loss sparking frustration and Roberts facing scrutiny for his handling of the team. Meanwhile, ticket prices have plummeted as fans bail on the 0-2 hole, a sign of the desperation creeping into the fanbase.
If the Dodgers do bench Ohtani, it would mark a stunning fall for a player who was once the most feared hitter in the game. But with their World Series dreams hanging by a thread, Los Angeles may have no choice but to make a bold call.
Game 3 is set for Wednesday in Milwaukee, and all eyes will be on the lineup card.
