Shohei Ohtani Dropped to Sixth in Dodgers Lineup Amid Slump

Facing a 0-2 NLCS deficit, struggling Shohei Ohtani was dropped to sixth in the batting order for Game 3, his first time hitting there since 2020. Battling left knee and right biceps injuries, Ohtani is batting .150 this postseason with zero extra-base hits and a 3-for-20 slump. While former pitcher Alex Wood predicted a home run bounce-back, teammate Mookie Betts defended Ohtani's grueling physical adjustments. Manager Dave Roberts kept him in the lineup for balance.