The Los Angeles Dodgers' chances at MLB's first three-peat in 26 years are on life support. The Milwaukee Brewers, meanwhile, are two wins away from their first NL pennant since 1982 after defeating Los Angeles in Game 2 of the NLCS, 7-4 on Monday. At the center of the Dodgers' struggles is four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, who went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Game 2, is 1-for-7 with one walk and three strikeouts in the NLCS and just 3-for-20 with no home runs, no RBIs three walks and seven strikeouts in the 2026 playoffs.
With Game 3 of the best-of-seven series scheduled for Wednesday night, Los Angeles is reportedly considering benching the struggling six-time All-Star. "Yeah, I mean, obviously it hasn’t been good," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said following Monday's loss, per The Athletic. 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." Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that if Ohtani is benched, rookie Josue De Paula would be the "top candidate" to replace the 32-year-old as the team's designated hitter. Ohtani has battled injuries for much of the year and missed two weeks on the injured list in September due to left knee and right biceps ailments. ESPN baseball reporter Alden Gonzalez reported Tuesday that Los Angeles "will continue playing (Ohtani) if he deems himself healthy.
"But a source clarified that the team would sit Ohtani only if he believed he was compromised by the left knee and right bicep injuries that previously hindered him. If he feels good enough to play, the plan is to continue playing him," Gonzalez wrote.
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