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Would the Dodgers actually bench Shohei Ohtani? Struggling superstar faces questions amid 2-0 NLCS hole
CBS Sports • • general
Key Points:
- Shohei Ohtani's ongoing knee and biceps injuries have significantly impacted his batting performance, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to consider benching him during the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
- Ohtani's offensive metrics have declined sharply since mid-August, with decreases in exit velocity, hard-hit rate, barrel rate, and expected weighted on-base average (xwOBA), raising concerns that his slump may be injury-related rather than mere bad luck.
- Rookie outfielder Josue De Paula, a highly regarded prospect who excelled in Double-A and has shown poise in limited postseason appearances, is the likely candidate to replace Ohtani in the Dodgers' lineup if he is deemed unable to play.
- The Dodgers face a daunting 0-2 deficit in the best-of-seven NLCS, with historical odds of just 16.8% for teams to recover from such a start, and even lower (15.6%) when the first two losses occur on the road, putting the team in a desperate position to make bold lineup decisions.
