LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers are recalibrating their rotation for the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, shifting their plan around Shohei Ohtani — but this time, the emphasis is on his swing, not his splitter.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Ohtani will make only one start in the best-of-seven series. The decision allows the two-way star more recovery days between outings and extra time to reset his approach at the plate, while Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto remain lined up for full-rest starts later in the series.
Roberts insists the move is “not about the slump,” though recent numbers tell a different story.
Inside Ohtani’s NLDS Struggles
Against the Philadelphia Phillies, Ohtani went 1-for-20 with nine strikeouts, including an 0-for-12 line versus left-handers. Roberts admitted afterward that Ohtani’s swing decisions “drifted,” with too much chase out of the zone and too little aggression in the strike zone.
Still, Ohtani’s regular season was nothing short of historic — a .282 average, 55 home runs, 1.014 OPS, and a .392 on-base percentage. He punished lefties during the year (.279, 15 HR, 146 wRC+), making his NLDS funk look more like a timing issue than a genuine platoon weakness.
Why One Start Could Help
By limiting Ohtani to one outing on the mound, the Dodgers are eliminating the heavy between-starts pitching workload — scouting sessions, video analysis, and bullpen maintenance — that can crowd his daily hitting rhythm.
With more time for batting-cage reps, approach work, and recovery, Los Angeles hopes to restore Ohtani’s strike-zone discipline before it becomes a larger issue. The off days after Games 2 and 5 will align Snell and Yamamoto for full-rest turns in Games 5 and 6, keeping the rotation balanced.
The Brewers’ Game Plan
Milwaukee will test Ohtani’s discipline with a blend of left-handed deception and elite right-handed velocity. Aaron Ashby and Jared Koenig handle the southpaw matchups, while Jacob Misiorowski — who routinely touches triple digits — has emerged as a late-inning weapon capable of forcing swings above the barrel.
The Dodgers’ counter: get Ohtani ahead early, force predictable pitches, and keep the swing window narrow against glove-side break.
The Broader Strategy
Ohtani’s playoff pitching line remains solid — 6 innings, 9 strikeouts, 4.50 ERA — but the Dodgers’ focus is clear: let the bat lead the charge.
“This isn’t about managing innings,” one team official said. “It’s about unlocking the most dangerous version of Shohei.”
If Ohtani’s timing returns, the bet could pay off quickly. The Dodgers will keep Snell and Yamamoto ready for the long innings that decide a seven-game series — and trust that their superstar’s next big moment comes from the batter’s box.
