Shohei Ohtani’s struggles during the NLCS have put the Dodgers in a precarious position. The pressure on the superstar is mounting, and his inability to produce is now a primary narrative surrounding the team's postseason failures.
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Would the Dodgers actually bench Shohei Ohtani? Struggling superstar faces questions amid 2-0 NLCS hole
After a second half gutted by injuries, Ohtani has proven to be a drain on the disappointing Dodgers so far in the NLCS The two-time reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers have a Shohei Ohtani problem. That seems an absurd thing to say about the two-way phenomenon who's won four MVP awards in the last five seasons, but that's the reality for the Dodgers as they trail the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0 in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series. Ohtani hasn't pitched since July 3, when he was pulled from his start against the Padres because of left knee discomfort and soreness in his right biceps. Those injuries kept him out of the All-Star Game and won't allow him to pitch in the postseason. For Ohtani and the Dodgers, though, the current concern is how those injuries are affecting him at the plate. The concern is such that the Dodgers and manager Dave Roberts may be pondering the heretofore unthinkable: benching Ohtani with the season on the line. "Yeah, I mean, obviously it hasn't been good," Roberts told reporters following the Dodgers' 7-4 loss to the Brewers in Game 2. "He doesn't feel great. I think for me, it's having a conversation with him tomorrow, kind of try to figure out what's best for him, what's best for us. He certainly has earned that conversation and deserves it. I'll have that conversation] with him tomorrow."
By Dayn PerryOctober 13, 2026CBS Sports
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