The Los Angeles Dodgers are shaking things up for a pivotal Game 3 against the Atlanta Braves, and the biggest change involves their superstar designated hitter. Shohei Ohtani, who has anchored the top of the order all season, is being dropped to fifth in the lineup for Tuesday's clash at Truist Park.
The move, confirmed by manager Dave Roberts, marks the lowest spot Ohtani has hit since 2020. After spending most of the regular season as the leadoff hitter and sliding to second in the first two NLDS games, the two-way phenom now finds himself in the middle of the order against Braves ace Chris Sale.
Ohtani's recent struggles are well-documented. He's been hampered by knee and biceps injuries, and his production has dipped significantly. In the series so far, he's just 2-for-8 with no walks or extra-base hits. His September numbers were pedestrian—a .200/.333/.233 slash line—and he hasn't hit a home run since August 18.
Roberts had hinted at the possibility of moving Ohtani down after Sunday's 3-2 loss, where Ohtani struck out twice. "I would," Roberts said Monday, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. "I think it's something that, you know, I think moving him from 1 to 2—but going further than that? I'm open to it."
Roberts emphasized that any change would come with a conversation with Ohtani, who has been fully on board with whatever the team needs. "At the end of the day every conversation I've had with him is whatever's best for the team, he's all-in on," Roberts added.
The new-look lineup has Mookie Betts leading off, Freddie Freeman moving up to second, Teoscar Hernandez batting third, and Will Smith fourth. Ohtani slots in fifth, followed by Miguel Rojas at second base, Andy Pages in center field, Kyle Tucker at eighth, and Enrique Hernandez making his first start of the series at third base over Max Muncy.
Tommy Edman, who has struggled at the plate with an 0-for-5 start, will sit out despite a career .803 OPS against lefties. The Dodgers are clearly looking for a spark, and this shake-up could be just that. Interestingly, Ohtani has thrived in this kind of situation before—he snapped a 16-game homer drought the last time he batted sixth back in 2020.
As the Dodgers look to bounce back from a 2-0 series deficit, all eyes will be on Ohtani to see if this lineup change reignites his bat. The game is set for 6 p.m. ET on FS1, and fans are already buzzing about the potential impact. For more on the Dodgers' playoff journey, check out how fans reacted to their early exit in Game 2, or the buzz around a Little League phenom channeling Ohtani. And if you're curious about the team's postseason fortunes, there's plenty of talk about their critics.
