Dodgers consider benching Shohei Ohtani in search of a reaction against Milwaukee
The Los Angeles Dodgers organization is going through a critical moment in the National League Championship Series. After falling 7-4 last Monday to the Milwaukee Brewers, the team finds itself down 0-2 in the series, forcing management to consider drastic changes to their starting lineup for the third game, including the possible benching of Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani.
The star designated hitter has not only shown a notable decline in his offensive production, but has also had to manage physical discomfort in his right bicep and left knee, issues that have diminished his playing ability in the final stretch of the season.
Worrying numbers for the Dodgers star
- Ohtani has a streak of 110 plate appearances without hitting a home run, the longest of his professional career.
- In his last 35 games, he has recorded a batting average of just .197 with an OPS of .629.
- During the current postseason, his numbers remain modest with an average of .150, the result of three hits in 20 at-bats, with no extra-base hits and seven strikeouts.
The urgency to close the gap in the series has led the coaching staff to explore alternatives that provide greater depth and offensive effectiveness in the batting order.
Josué De Paula, the prospect waiting for his opportunity
Given the uncertainty surrounding Ohtani’s status for Wednesday’s game, Dominican prospect Josué De Paula emerges as the primary option to fill the designated hitter role. De Paula, ranked as the fourth-best prospect in all of baseball, was promoted from Double-A Tulsa last September.
During his brief stint with the big league team, the young talent demonstrated a great ability to make contact, managing to reach base in 50% of his 42 official plate appearances. Although his participation in these playoffs has been limited to pinch-hitting roles, the emergency situation facing the Dodgers could grant him the opportunity to debut in a high-pressure situation, seeking to inject the necessary energy to keep their hopes of advancing to the World Series alive.
