Shohei Ohtani will bat sixth for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The lineup change comes as the two-time defending World Series champions attempt to recover from a 2-0 series deficit while their biggest star struggles with injuries and a prolonged hitting slump.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Ohtani would remain in the starting lineup despite discussions about giving him a game off. The Japanese superstar will serve as the designated hitter against Milwaukee left-hander Robert Gasser at Dodger Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. Pacific time.
It will be Ohtani's first appearance in the sixth spot since joining the Dodgers and his first time batting that low since 2020, when he played for the Los Angeles Angels. The move represents a significant adjustment for a player accustomed to occupying one of the most important positions near the top of the batting order.
Ohtani has collected just three hits in 20 postseason at-bats, all singles, for a .150 batting average. He has not recorded an extra-base hit during the playoffs and has struggled to provide the offensive production Los Angeles normally expects from him.
His difficulties extend beyond the current playoff series. Ohtani has been dealing with right biceps and left knee injuries since June, problems that have limited his effectiveness during the second half of the regular season.
The injuries forced him onto the injured list in September, when he missed games from September 9 through September 23. Although he returned before the postseason, he has not regained the consistent power that made him one of baseball's most feared hitters.
According to Major League Baseball's reporting, Ohtani entered Game 3 batting .197 with a .629 on-base-plus-slugging percentage over his previous 35 games, including the regular season and postseason. That stretch represents a sharp decline from his usual production.
His last home run came on August 18 at Coors Field in Colorado. By the time the Dodgers reached Game 3, he had gone 110 consecutive plate appearances without a home run, the longest such stretch of his major league career.
Those numbers created questions about whether Ohtani should continue playing every day. With Milwaukee already leading the best-of-seven series by two games, Roberts and the coaching staff considered whether a short break might help him recover physically and make adjustments at the plate.
Roberts ultimately decided to keep Ohtani in the lineup after speaking with him about his condition and approach.
The manager told reporters Tuesday that Ohtani believed he had identified a mechanical issue with his swing and was confident he could make the necessary corrections. Roberts also said the conversation reinforced how strongly the player wanted to contribute.
Ohtani has acknowledged his poor results without using his injuries as an excuse. He said his physical symptoms had improved since his time on the injured list and accepted responsibility for his recent offensive struggles.
The situation presents a difficult decision for a team that relies heavily on its star designated hitter. Resting Ohtani could provide additional recovery time, but it would also remove a player capable of changing a game with one swing.
Rather than remove him entirely, Roberts chose to change the batting order. The adjustment places several other established hitters ahead of Ohtani while allowing him to continue working through his slump in meaningful postseason games.
Mookie Betts will lead off and play shortstop, followed by Freddie Freeman at first base and Teoscar Hernández in left field. Kyle Tucker moves into the cleanup position after previously batting lower in the order.
Andy Pages will bat fifth and play center field, with Ohtani following as the designated hitter. Will Smith moves down to seventh in the order while continuing his catching duties.
Smith has also experienced difficulties at the plate during October. His move down the lineup gives the Dodgers another opportunity to redistribute offensive responsibilities without removing an experienced postseason player.
Miguel Rojas will start at third base in place of Max Muncy as Los Angeles adjusts to Milwaukee's left-handed starting pitcher. Tommy Edman will handle second base, completing a lineup that features several right-handed batting options.
Tucker's promotion to fourth is one of the more notable changes. His performance has given Roberts another experienced hitter to rely upon while Ohtani attempts to regain his timing.
The Dodgers enter Wednesday's game under considerable pressure after losing both opening contests in Milwaukee. The Brewers took Game 1 by a 2-1 score before following with a 7-4 victory in Game 2.
Milwaukee has benefited from timely hitting and strong relief pitching throughout the series. Its ability to limit Los Angeles' powerful lineup has placed the defending champions in a difficult position entering their first home game of the matchup.
The Brewers have also received important contributions from catcher William Contreras, whose offensive performance helped secure the second victory. Their bullpen has consistently prevented the Dodgers from building sustained rallies late in games.
For Game 3, Los Angeles will turn to left-handed starter Blake Snell. The veteran pitcher is scheduled to make his first appearance since Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves.
Snell has dealt with injuries during the season but has generally pitched effectively when available. His performance will be particularly important because another defeat would leave the Dodgers one loss away from elimination.
Milwaukee will counter with Gasser, another left-hander who has performed well during the closing stages of the season. His recent success helped him earn an important postseason starting assignment.
The pitching matchup influenced Roberts' lineup decisions, particularly the choice to replace the left-handed-hitting Muncy with Rojas. The Dodgers hope a different combination of hitters will generate more consistent offensive pressure against Gasser.
Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy has made adjustments of his own. The Brewers plan to use Andrew Vaughn as their designated hitter instead of Christian Yelich, providing another right-handed option against Snell.
The lineup changes reflect the importance of individual matchups in postseason baseball. Managers must consider recent performance, pitching styles, defensive requirements and player health while trying to maximize their chances in a short series.
For Ohtani, the challenge is both physical and technical. His injuries have affected his production, while the extended home run drought suggests he has struggled to generate the power that normally defines his offensive game.
The Dodgers are also managing his workload carefully because he has not pitched since early July. His current postseason role is limited to designated hitter, allowing him to contribute offensively without the additional demands of taking the mound.
Ohtani remains one of the most accomplished players in the sport. His historic combination of hitting and pitching has earned him multiple Most Valuable Player awards, and he played a central role in the Dodgers' championship success.
That reputation makes his current struggles particularly noticeable. Opposing pitchers still have reason to approach him carefully, but his recent results have not matched the level expected from one of baseball's highest-profile players.
The Dodgers have enough experienced hitters to compete without relying exclusively on Ohtani. Betts, Freeman, Hernández and Tucker have all demonstrated the ability to produce in important situations, while Pages and Smith offer additional offensive options.
However, restoring Ohtani's production would give the lineup a substantial advantage. His ability to hit for power and reach base consistently has been central to Los Angeles' offensive success in recent seasons.
Wednesday's game will provide another opportunity to determine whether his swing adjustments are producing results. Batting sixth may reduce some of the immediate pressure associated with occupying a leading position in the order, although his performance will remain under close attention.
The Dodgers must also improve their overall offensive execution. Their first two losses demonstrated how difficult it can be to overcome strong pitching when scoring opportunities are limited.
Game 3 is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern time and will be televised nationally on FS1. The series will remain in Los Angeles for Game 4 on Thursday, with additional games scheduled if necessary.
For now, Roberts has chosen to keep faith in his struggling superstar while making one of the most significant batting-order adjustments of Ohtani's Dodgers career. With Milwaukee leading 2-0, the decision will receive immediate scrutiny as Los Angeles attempts to avoid falling into an even deeper postseason deficit.