Overview
- The Dodgers confirmed Tuesday that Shohei Ohtani will start as the designated hitter in Game 3 of the NLCS after a meeting between Ohtani and manager Dave Roberts.
- Ohtani has struggled at the plate this postseason, going 3-for-20 (.150) with no extra-base hits and has not homered since Aug. 18 while managing left-knee and right-biceps issues.
- Roberts said Ohtani was ‘‘very convicted’’ and ‘‘adamant’’ he can help the team and that the club will support him while keeping the option to give him a short reset day if needed.
- The Dodgers have a clear alternative in rookie Josue De Paula, who would be the leading designated-hitter replacement and has been on the roster since his September promotion.
- With Los Angeles trailing Milwaukee 2-0, keeping Ohtani in the lineup is a bet to avoid a 0-3 series hole and it concentrates postseason expectations on his bat since he will not pitch this fall.