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The Los Angeles Dodgers have taken a 2-1 series lead in the NLDS over the New York Mets thanks to an 8-0 shutout on Wednesday. Slugger Shohei Ohtani played a major role in that victory.
The designated hitter bashed his second home run of the postseason to help the Dodgers pull away late in the action. In doing so, he continued an incredible trend seen in the postseason.
Ohtani simply cannot get out with runners on base!
This October, he’s hitting .778 with teammates on the basepaths while knocking in all eight of his RBIs. When pitchers are forced to attack him, he’s made them pay, coming through in the clutch time and again.
It offers a stark contrast to what’s been seen with the bases empty.
In 22 at-bats with nobody on, Shohei Ohtani is hitless.
Shohei Ohtani is now 7-9 (.778) with 2 HR and 8 RBI with men on base this postseason and 0-22 with bases empty.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) October 17, 2024
That extreme disparity has fans in Los Angeles questioning manager Dave Roberts.
“Why is he hitting leadoff?”
Ohtani has held down the No. 1 in the lineup all year. The reasoning? To give him as many at-bats as possible.
That said, batting leadoff also ensures that the first plate appearance comes with no runners on base. It also means he follows the bottom of the order each time up.
Should the lineup be shuffled?
Dave Roberts has no plans to move Shohei Ohtani in the order.
“It’s just funny how things change,” he said while addressing the media. “There was a lot of concern about Shohei not being able to get hits with runners in scoring positions [early in the year]. Now, we’re all trying to find ways that he can get guys on so he can hit, right?
“I kind of find that comical a little bit. I don’t think anyone can predict who can get on base in Game 3 or Game 4… To think that I’m going to move Shohei to the 4 or 3, that’s just not going to happen.”
Roberts will continue to operate as he has, and why not? It’s gotten him this far!
The latest criticism is far from the first the manager’s had to endure in Los Angeles. Postseason failures have haunted his clubs of late, as they’ve fallen a combined six-games-to-one in NLDS action over the last two years.
Much of the prior bad-mouthing has been aimed at pitching decisions, though that hasn’t been an issue in 2024. The Dodgers continue to dominate on the mound.
Meanwhile, as we head to the 9th, per @ESPNStatsInfo: The Dodgers already have shutouts of 8-0 and 9-0 this postseason. No team has ever had three shutouts of 7+ runs in a single postseason.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) October 17, 2024
I guess hitting was the easiest target for his critics!
Dave Roberts doesn’t seem to be taking these latest requests too seriously. Expect Shohei Ohtani to stay atop the order in Game 4.