The Los Angeles Dodgers are preparing to begin their NLDS this Saturday against either the Philadelphia Phillies or the Atlanta Braves. However, uncertainty surrounds the physical condition of superstar Shohei Ohtani following a disappointing stretch at the end of the regular season.
The .232 average that signals a slump
The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing a critical productivity gap with their most impactful player. According to the report, Shohei Ohtani struggled significantly in the final two months of the regular season,batting just .232 with six home runs and 14 runs batted in over 35 games. This represents a sharp decline from his pre-July performance, during which he posted a .296 batting average and a .954 OPS.
This downturn follows a season of fragmented health.. while Shohei Ohtani was dominant as a pitcher early on—posting a 1.58 ERA across 13 starts—he was shut down before the All-Star break and eventually landed on the 15-day injured list in September.. The Dodgers went 21-21 in the 42 games following the Midsummer Classic, a period where Ohtani's batting average dipped to .246.
The missing swings at Oracle Park
Physical red flags appeared during the season-ending series against the San Francisco Giants. As the report noted, Shohei Ohtani went 2-for-12 with five strikeouts across three games at Oracle Park. While Manager Dave Roberts attributed these results to impatience, the lack of production suggests a player who is not yet back to full strength .
More concerning was a specific behavioral shift observed during those games. When Shohei Ohtani was on deck in San Francisco , he reportedly did not take any practice swings. For a player of his discipline and routine, this absence of preparation is a potential indicator that he is masking a physical limitation.
Brandon Gomes' confidence versus Dave Roberts' caution
There is a visible disconnect in how the Los Angeles Dodgers leadership is framing Ohtani's readiness. General Manager Brandon Gomes has been optimistic , asserting that the four-time MVP is "feeling great physically" and that the communication between the player and the front office has been strong.
Manager Dave Roberts has offered a more tempered assessment. While Roberts believes the team will see the best version of Shohei Ohtani from the last two months, he admitted that this is a "low bar" given the player's recent injury struggles. This suggests that the coaching staff is bracing for a version of Ohtani that is functional, but perhaps not optimal.
The risk of Ohtani's silence on his right arm and left knee
The primary uncertainty remaining is whether Shohei Ohtani is being fully transparent about his health. The Los Angeles Dodgers are now relying on the player's honesty regarding his right arm and left knee to determine if he can sustain four to five competitive at-bats per game across three rounds of postseason play.
The report highlights a history of Ohtani not communicating his physical struggles, which has previously left the team without a contingency plan. If the superstar is physically compromised but unwilling to admit it, the Dodgers risk a scenario where they wait for a resurgence that never arrives, potentially leading to an early elimination.
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