The Dodgers haven't changed anything about Shohei Ohtani.
The front-runner for National League MVP has put up interesting numbers this postseason, going 6-for-8 with runners on base and 0-for-19 with bases empty, as the Dodgers hold on to the evenly matched National League one game at a time. With the Mets as they prepare for Game 3 of the league CS.
Still, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he has no plans to remove him from the leadoff spot, where he had hits in all 90 regular-season games and seven postseason games.
“It's interesting how things are changing. There was a lot of concern that Shohei wouldn't be able to hit with runners in scoring position, and now we're all trying to find a way. “How to get him on base so he can hit,” right? ” Roberts said on Tuesday. According to ESPN.com.
“I think that's kind of comical.”
Ohtani's numbers in the two slots during the regular season were nearly identical, with a leadoff batting average of .307 compared to a .314 batting average in the two slots.
Ohtani had a higher on-base percentage when batting leadoff (.392 vs. .387) and was much better at slugging from first base (.680 vs. .602).
“I think it’s isolating,” Roberts said. “Like all hitters, he had his moments where he had to reset. Sometimes certain pitchers can trigger bad habits, and you have to identify them and reset them. …But if I think they're going to move Shohei to No. 4 or No. 3, I don't think that's going to happen.”
Therefore, Ohtani is expected to continue as a leadoff hitter in the NL CS going forward, and Mets pitcher Sean Manaea was able to take some ridiculous swings off the Japanese slugger in Game 2.
Ohtani struck out in his first two at-bats Monday, the first to start the game and the second in the top of the third inning, and Manaea led the Mets to a 7-3 victory.
“No matter what they throw at me, my plan is to keep the same approach as much as possible and not focus too much on how they attack me…if I feel good and get the results. According to ESPN, Ohtani said through an interpreter:
The Mets will use Luis Severino in Game 3, giving him the biggest start of his career so far as they hope to win the best-of-seven with a spot in the World Series on the line.
