Dodgers make unprecedented move with Shohei Ohtani

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Dodgers make unprecedented move with Shohei Ohtani

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Oct 14, 2026 5:15 PM ET

The Los Angeles Dodgers are making an unprecedented move with injured star Shohei Ohtani as he continues to struggle through the playoffs.

The Dodgers are batting Ohtani sixth for Game 3 of the NLCS on Wednesday. That is the lowest place in the order Ohtani has hit since joining the Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani has been moved down to sixth in the Dodgers batting order Ohtani has only started a game batting sixth or lower 19 times in his career, all with the Angels in 2020 and earlier https://t.co/oG6d5zidoQ
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 14, 2026

Ohtani has generally been the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter all season. He hit fourth in the first two games of the NLCS in Milwaukee, but went 1-for-7 with three strikeouts in that role.

During his MLB career, Ohtani has only started a game at sixth or lower in the order 19 times. All but two of them came in 2018 when he was in his first MLB season with the Los Angeles Angels. Nine of them were his first nine starts with the Angels, as the team wanted to allow him to acclimate without putting too much pressure on him by hitting him up in the order.

There was some talk that the Dodgers might even bench Ohtani for Game 3 as he battles an extended slump. He is 3-for-20 in the postseason and has not homered since August 18. He has been battling well-publicized knee and bicep injuries, but has refused to use those as an excuse for his lack of production.

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