MLB Insider Doubts Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani as Struggles Continue

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani has struggled during the postseason, and one MLB insider believes that it will take a while before he breaks out of his slump.

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Through seven playoff games, Ohtani is 4-for-29 with six walks, two home runs and five RBIs. He is slashing .138/.286/.345 in the postseason, far from his regular season numbers of .282/.392/.622.

Ohtani went 0-for-2 with three walks in NLCS Game 1, getting on base well, but still unable to get his bat going.

ESPN’s David Schoenfield predicts it could be a long series for Ohtani and it may take until the World Series for him to breakout — if the Dodgers get there.

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“He did homer twice in the wild-card opener against the Reds but then went 1-for-18 against the Phillies with nine strikeouts. Granted, he faced three of the toughest lefties in the game in that series — but remember, he was only so-so last postseason (by his own impossible standards), hitting .230/.373/.393,” Schoenfield wrote in story on ESPN.

“As hard as he pushes himself all season, and now that he’s also pitching again, it’s a lot to ask of him to keep crushing baseball at this regular-season rate.

“Consider this nugget of information as well: Ohtani ranked second overall in the majors in OPS in the regular season (1.014); but against pitches of 97 mph or faster, he drops to 21st in OPS (.889). That’s still awesome.

“Just not quite as awesome. The Brewers have four pitchers who average 97-plus with their fastballs in Jacob Misiorowski, Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby, plus Jared Koenig (averages 96, touches 99), Nick Mears (averages 95.4, touches 98) and Freddy Peralta (averages 94.8, touches 97-98).

“Two of those are lefty relievers — Ashby and Koenig — and they’re going to face Ohtani a lot in this series. Ohtani knows what he’s going to get. Let ‘er rip (on both sides).”

Even if Ohtani does not end up hitting well during the series, he will still likely give the Dodgers a big boost in terms of starting pitching. He has been a great arm for manager Dave Roberts despite his hitting woes, showing elite stuff and good command.

If his hitting does get rolling, the Dodgers could be heading to their second consecutive World Series.

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