After moving Shohei Ohtani down in their batting order during his injury-hampered slump in the postseason, the Dodgers reversed course with their season on the line in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.
For the first time in October, Ohtani returned to his usual first spot in the lineup.
“Just seeing the work the last few days, I like where his head is at,” manager Dave Roberts said, with Ohtani turning in one of his best recent performances in Wednesday’s Game 3 by reaching base three times and hitting a 113 mph single on his final trip to the plate.
“I liked the at-bats yesterday,” Roberts added. “I’m trying to shake things up a little.”
The move comes as the Dodgers face a three-game-to-zero deficit against the Milwaukee Brewers –– and despite Ohtani’s batting average of .182 (4-for-22) in these postseasons, during which he also failed to record an extra base hit or an RBI.
Previously, these difficulties had seen him fall on both holes, then to places Nos. 4, 5 and 6 in the previous four matches.
But now he will once again spearhead their offense, with the Dodgers choosing to ride or die with the four-time MVP leading their lineup.
“I feel good that he took five at-bats,” Roberts said, “and gave us our best chance to win and drive in runs today.”
In other lineup changes Thursday, the Dodgers moved Will Smith –– who emerged from his own postseason slump with a two-run double in Game 3 –– back to the cleanup spot after being moved back seven holes previously.
Miguel Rojas also started at second base and Kiké Hernández at third base, with Max Muncy and Tommy Edman sent to the bench against Brewers left-handed starter Shane Drohan.
“What do we have to lose?” Roberts spoke about the team’s mindset heading into the first of (what they hope will be) four straight playoff games. “I just don’t want us to be tense. We’ve been here playing playoff games before. There might not be a tomorrow, so we have to play like that, and I hope we do. With that, you have to play free and easy. That’s imperative.”
Here is the full Dodgers lineup for Game 4:
1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
2. Mookie Betts, SS
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Will Smith, C.
5. Kyle Tucker, R.F.
6. Teoscar Hernández, LF
7. Miguel Rojas, 2B
8. Andy Pages, CF
9. Kiké Hernandez, 3B
MS: Tyler Glasnow
Gn sports
