October 13: Roberts said Ohtani will stay in the Game 3 lineup, per Jack Harris of The California Post.
October 12: The Dodgers return to L.A. with their three‑peat hopes hanging by a thread. The Brewers clinched Game 2, 7‑4, keeping a 44‑year pennant drought at bay and setting up a pivotal NLCS clash at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday.
October’s offense has sputtered all month, largely because four‑time MVP Shohei Ohtani has managed only three singles in 20 at‑bats. He went 0‑4 with two strikeouts last night, still nursing a right‑biceps issue after a left‑knee injury sidelined him in June. The 15‑day IL stint in mid‑September left him far from full strength.
Power has vanished from Ohtani’s bat in recent weeks. He logged just one extra‑base hit—a double—in his final five regular‑season games, and his last homer came on Aug. 18 at Coors Field against Ryan Feltner. He finished the season without a home run in his final 18 games, a rarity matched only in September 2022.
Should the club pull Ohtani, 21‑year‑old Josue De Paula would likely make his first playoff start. The prospect has embraced the pressure, drawing two walks in three postseason plate appearances, including a clutch base on balls against Didier Fuentes that sparked a decisive lead in Game 4 of the Division Series. He also kept Game 1 of the NLCS alive with a two‑out walk to Trevor Megill before Mookie Betts ended it with a flyout. For my money, giving De Paula the nod could spark the lineup.
Although listed as an outfielder, the Dodgers aren’t counting on De Paula’s glove in October. He thrived in a two‑week DH stint while Ohtani was injured, boasting a 27‑homer, .303/.401/.547 season in Double‑A and skipping the top minor‑league level altogether.
Milwaukee has already named lefty Robert Gasser as its Game 3 starter, and the Dodgers are expected to counter with Blake Snell. Manager Pat Murphy hinted tonight that Dustin May, who logged an inning of relief behind Logan Henderson, could return to start Game 4 on Thursday. Can Snell silence the Brewers and force a Game 4 showdown?