Dodgers Moved Ohtani to Fifth Spot
Manager Dave Roberts shuffled the lineup after the star struggled during the NLDS against Atlanta.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Baseball
Live Poll
Should professional athletes be benched for poor performance regardless of their past achievements?
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts moved Shohei Ohtani to the fifth spot in the batting order following his recent offensive struggles. The decision comes as fans express public frustration regarding Ohtani's performance during the postseason series against Atlanta.
Why it matters
Ohtani has struggled with plate discipline throughout the postseason by chasing pitches outside the strike zone, prompting the change in the lineup to balance the offensive output. His recent slide follows a difficult finish to the regular season.
Ohtani recorded a 42.9% chase rate against Atlanta and has failed to hit a home run since August 18, 2026. He finished his 2026 campaign with 30 home runs, 81 RBIs, and a .275 average.
The players
Dave Roberts
He serves as the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers and is responsible for making all lineup and tactical decisions for the team.
Shohei Ohtani
He is a multi-positional professional baseball star for the Los Angeles Dodgers known for his elite capabilities as both a hitter and pitcher.
Josue De Paula
He is a rookie prospect for the Los Angeles Dodgers who maintained a .323 batting average across 11 major-league games.
Chris Sale
He is a veteran professional baseball pitcher who has faced Ohtani during the postseason series.
The details
Ohtani went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in Game 3 of the NLDS, a performance that followed a September where he batted just .200. While Ohtani has three hits in 15 career at-bats against Chris Sale, his tendency to swing at nearly two-thirds of first pitches in the postseason has raised concerns about his current approach at the plate.
Timeline
August 18, 2026, marks the date of Ohtani's last home run.
During September 2026, Ohtani recorded a .200 batting average.
October 2026 is when Ohtani played in the NLDS against Atlanta.
Season Trajectory
This lineup adjustment highlights the intense pressure of the postseason, where managers must balance legacy stars against emerging depth options like Josue De Paula to keep championship hopes alive. The decision alters the team's offensive rhythm and signals a shift in the Dodgers' approach to overcoming pitching dominance in the NLDS.
Ohtani moving to the fifth spot suggests he may see fewer high-leverage opportunities if pitchers continue to exploit his high first-pitch swing rate. The shift also provides more protection for the middle of the order, potentially changing the defensive strategy for opposing teams like the Braves.
The takeaway
Even the most accomplished hitters can fall into patterns of poor plate discipline that require tactical adjustments by team management. Readers can take away the importance of adapting strategies in real-time when previous methods no longer yield consistent results.
Further reading
For more on the team's postseason run and roster developments, visit the Baseball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EssentiallySports.
Live Poll
Should professional athletes be benched for poor performance regardless of their past achievements?
