MILWAUKEE

Dave Roberts had a tough time articulating his confidence.

When the Dodgers’ manager was asked again about any promising signs from slumping player Shohei Ohtani, who is also dealing with injuries, he didn’t offer a solid reason for hope.

In the National League Division Series against the Braves, Ohtani had a 2-for-13 showing. Roberts mentioned that, despite that, Ohtani “did a good job of controlling the [strike] zone.” He noted that he saw “some better swings” and appreciated that Ohtani managed to get on base in every game, thanks in part to a few walks.

However, Roberts didn’t pretend that the four-time MVP looked close to breaking out of his slump.

He, like many others, noted that Ohtani appeared quite different from the player they’ve come to know over the last few seasons.

So, what’s behind Roberts’ insistence that Ohtani will eventually “come to life” in this postseason?

“There’s nothing right now I’m going to hang my hat on,” he admitted, “outside of, I just believe in the person and the talent … I’m just never going to count Shohei out.”

At this point, such unwavering faith is about all the Dodgers can muster regarding Ohtani, who was set to hit cleanup in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

Everyone is aware that Ohtani is still managing issues with his left knee and right arm. They know it’s been quite some time since he last homered, with a drought stretching 22 games (encompassing both the regular season and playoffs) where he has hit just .157 and managed only one RBI.

Still, there’s a lingering sense of hope, albeit perhaps misplaced, for a turnaround.

“I still think if he’s in the batter’s box, he’s still a threat,” Roberts explained. “He swung the bat well against these guys last postseason. Those pitchers have long memories. Now it’s just up to Shohei to control the strike zone. They’re not going to give in to him regardless of how he’s been swinging lately, in my opinion.”

Interestingly, it was around this time last year when Ohtani broke free from a routine slump that wasn’t injury-related. After hitting just 1-for-18 with nine strikeouts during the NLDS, he went on a tear in the NLCS, culminating in a memorable three-homer, 10-strikeout game that earned him MVP honors.

This year, however, expectations are more measured.

Roberts merely hopes to see Ohtani – who has avoided speaking to the media since before last week’s division series – find ways to “just get on base [and] take good at-bats,” particularly against likely Cy Young winner Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1 of their rematch.

“Shohei is known for his power, but when you’re facing Jacob, you just need to focus on good at-bats,” Roberts pointed out. “If you hit a homer, that’s great. But if you earn a walk, that’s fantastic.”

The process kicked off during a Saturday evening workout at American Family Field, where Ohtani and his teammates aimed to adjust to Misiorowski’s impressive 105 mph fastball by practicing pitches off a velocity machine from closer distances to mimic the speed.

“That’s actually an Albert Pujols drill,” hitting coach Aaron Bates explained. “When Albert was with us in ’21, he did that daily before starting. It trains the overall tempo and helps quicken the transition of your swing. Obviously, with Misiorowski throwing hard, it’s a beneficial drill.”

For Ohtani, the focus during batting practice was on “not flipping the barrel too soon,” as Bates speculated that Ohtani might have been overexerting himself in an effort to regain his usual bat speed and power due to his injuries.

“I think it happens incrementally,” Bates noted. “Players may not realize they’re swinging harder; it tends to happen gradually until it adds up to too much effort. Any drills that help manage that effort level are always useful.”

The hitting staff has advised Ohtani to maintain a controlled finish with his swing, “reverse engineer” his mechanics to be more consistent from that point.

“His work has been solid in the cages, and during games as well,” Bates mentioned. “I think it’s just about him finding the sensations he wants.”

At this juncture, it’s just another reason for the cautious optimism the Dodgers are holding onto.

They aren’t sure how, why, or when things might click, but they remain hopeful that their faith in Ohtani will eventually pay off.