Dodgers Retained Shohei Ohtani in Active Lineup
The Los Angeles Dodgers will keep Shohei Ohtani in their starting lineup despite recent struggles at the plate.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Baseball
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The Los Angeles Dodgers decided to keep Shohei Ohtani in the active lineup as the team prepares to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series. This decision comes despite recent batting struggles.
Why it matters
Management believes that Shohei Ohtani's presence in the lineup forces opposing pitchers to avoid him, effectively protecting other hitters. The team remains confident the player will eventually regain his batting form.
Shohei Ohtani recorded a .154 batting average in four NLDS games, following a .202 average over his final 30 games of the regular season. His performance in the final 15 games of the regular season was .167 with no home runs.
The players
Shohei Ohtani
He is a prominent professional baseball player currently signed to a $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Los Angeles Dodgers
This is a professional Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles that is currently competing in the postseason.
Milwaukee Brewers
This is a professional Major League Baseball team that will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the upcoming National League Championship Series.
Joe Torre
He is a former professional baseball manager who famously moved Alex Rodriguez down in the batting order during the 2006 season.
Alex Rodriguez
He is a former professional baseball player who experienced significant batting struggles during the 2006 season.
The details
The Dodgers previously experimented by moving Ohtani between the No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5 lineup spots during recent play. While Ohtani recorded one walk, one stolen base, and one run scored in Game 4 of the NLDS, the team is balancing his current output against his $700 million contract value.
Timeline
In 2006, Joe Torre moved Alex Rodriguez to the eighth spot in the lineup.
During July 2024, Ohtani recorded a 1-for-12 hitting performance over three games.
In October 2026, the Dodgers participated in the NLDS and prepare for the upcoming NLCS.
Season Trajectory
The choice to maintain Ohtani's role signals a high-stakes management strategy regarding superstar player usage during the NLCS. This decision directly impacts the team's offensive alignment and competitive balance against the Brewers.
Shohei Ohtani's continued presence in the active starting lineup dictates the offensive hierarchy for the upcoming NLCS series. His placement at either the No. 2, No. 4, or No. 5 spot remains the primary factor for adjusting the surrounding batting order.
The takeaway
Maintaining faith in a superstar's impact on opposing pitcher behavior is a common high-leverage strategy in professional baseball. Teams often choose to leverage the threat of an elite player even when individual batting statistics indicate a recent decline.
What happens next
The Los Angeles Dodgers will face the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.
Further reading
For more on the current team configuration, visit Baseball.
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