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The Dodgers moved Shohei Ohtani from his usual top-of-order role to fifth for NLDS Game 3 against the Braves, with manager Dave Roberts citing the matchup with left-hander Chris Sale and the need to spread left-handed hitters through the lineup. Los Angeles and Atlanta entered the game tied 1-1; Ohtani had two hits and two strikeouts in the first two games, and Roberts said he did not expect the move to carry into Game 4.
The Los Angeles Dodgers moved Shohei Ohtani to fifth in the lineup for Tuesday’s NLDS Game 3 against the Atlanta Braves, a notable change for the star hitter as the teams entered the game tied at one win apiece. Manager Dave Roberts said the order was built around the matchup with left-handed starter Chris Sale and the expectation that runs would be difficult to come by.
It was the lowest Ohtani had hit in a lineup since Sept. 23, 2020, according to ESPN’s report. Roberts placed Freddie Freeman second and Kyle Tucker eighth, spreading the Dodgers’ left-handed hitters around the order against Sale. Ohtani, a left-handed hitter, had gone 3-for-15 with five strikeouts in his career against the Braves pitcher.
Ohtani had two hits and two strikeouts in eight at-bats across the first two games of the series. His move down the order came after a regular season in which he hit .275 with 30 home runs and 81 RBIs, and after a late-season return from the injured list. He missed time with lingering right biceps and left knee issues, then played the final five regular-season games, going 5-for-21 with one extra-base hit, eight strikeouts and a walk.
Roberts said Ohtani had been chasing pitches while trying to regain his timing and could continue to see pitches outside the strike zone until he showed more restraint. The manager described the lineup decision as specific to the Game 3 matchup, rather than a judgment about Ohtani’s ability or standing on the team.
A Matchup-Driven Change in the Order
The move puts one of baseball’s most prominent hitters in a different spot at a time when the Dodgers are trying to take the lead in a short series. Batting Ohtani fifth may change when he comes to the plate relative to Freeman and the hitters ahead of him, giving Los Angeles a different way to organize its left-handed bats against Sale. Roberts said the team’s priority was creating the best chance to score against the Atlanta starter and the pitchers who might follow.
It is also a visible response to Ohtani’s recent results and the particular pitcher he faced, but it does not establish that the Dodgers have made a lasting change to his role. Roberts said he did not expect Ohtani to hit fifth in Game 4, which suggests the lineup decision was tied to this game’s circumstances. The result of the matchup would offer the immediate test, but one game would not by itself settle questions about Ohtani’s form.
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Why Roberts Changed the Matchup
Game 3 was set up as a meeting between two of the series’ leading starters: Sale for Atlanta and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Los Angeles. Yamamoto was the reigning World Series MVP. With the series level, the winner of Game 3 would move ahead in the best-of-five NLDS, increasing the importance of the pitching matchup and the Dodgers’ effort to manufacture scoring chances.
Roberts said the lineup change was about distributing left-handed hitters against Sale, not a general loss of confidence in Ohtani. The manager also noted that Ohtani had joked after being told of the plan that he had considered asking to bat seventh in September. The report says that was the lowest position Ohtani had occupied since his time with the Los Angeles Angels in 2020.
Atlanta also had a prominent hitter in a slump. Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was 3-for-18 in the postseason, including 2-for-9 in the first two games against Los Angeles, but manager Walt Weiss kept him in the No. 2 spot and moved him from right field to designated hitter in a late lineup change. Lane Thomas entered in right field. The different decisions show that each club was weighing its own lineup and defensive choices rather than applying one response to a hitter’s cold stretch.
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How Long Ohtani Stays Fifth
It was not clear whether Ohtani’s lower lineup position would have any effect on his hitting or the Dodgers’ scoring in Game 3. Roberts said he did not expect to use the same spot for Ohtani in Wednesday’s Game 4 against Braves right-hander Tyler Mahle, but that was an expectation rather than a confirmed lineup announcement. The available report does not establish whether the move would be reconsidered if Ohtani continued to struggle or if the series circumstances changed.
Ohtani’s lingering injury issues were part of the lead-up to the change, but the report did not say that he was newly injured or unable to play. The extent to which his late-season return affected his current timing also remains unclear. Roberts’ observations about chasing pitches were the manager’s assessment; the report did not provide a medical update or a separate explanation from Ohtani about his hitting mechanics.
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Game 3 and the Game 4 Lineup
The immediate next development was whether the Dodgers could score against Sale and take a 2-1 series lead, with Yamamoto starting for Los Angeles. The Game 3 result would determine which team had the advantage entering the next game, but would not automatically establish whether the lineup change would continue.
Roberts said he did not expect Ohtani to bat fifth in Game 4 against Mahle. The Dodgers’ next announced lineup would show whether they returned Ohtani to a higher spot or adjusted again based on the opposing pitcher and the condition of the series. Any further change in Ohtani’s status or role would need to be confirmed by the club.
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Key Questions
Why did the Dodgers move Ohtani to fifth?
Roberts said the lineup was designed for the matchup with left-handed starter Chris Sale and to spread Los Angeles’ left-handed hitters through the order. He described it as the lineup he believed gave the team its best chance in Game 3.
How had Ohtani performed in the first two NLDS games?
He had two hits and two strikeouts in eight at-bats across the first two games, according to the report.
Was Ohtani injured when he was moved down?
The report noted he had recently returned from an injured-list stint involving lingering right biceps and left knee issues. It did not report a new injury or say he was unable to play in Game 3.
Will Ohtani bat fifth in Game 4?
Roberts said he did not expect Ohtani to hit fifth in Game 4 against right-hander Tyler Mahle. The final lineup for that game was not confirmed in the report.
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