Dodgers Consider Benching Shohei Ohtani for Game 3 of NLCS vs Brewers Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says he will talk with Shohei Ohtani about his role after the star's prolonged slump, with rookie Josue De Paula a candidate to start at DH in Game 3. The Los Angeles Dodgers are considering benching Shohei Ohtani for Game 3 of the NLCS after falling behind 0-2 to the Milwaukee Brewers, according to reporting by Ken Rosenthal and Will Woo. Any decision about Ohtani's playing time would involve manager Dave Roberts and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, among others, and no formal decision has been made. The talks are expected to begin Tuesday. Roberts told The Athletic he plans to have a conversation with Ohtani."He doesn't feel great," Roberts said according to The Athletic. "I think for me, it's having a conversation with him tomorrow, kind of try to figure out what's best for him, what's best for us. He certainly has earned that conversation and deserves it.Ohtani Batting Struggles Continue" Ohtani has struggled badly at the plate. Through seven games this postseason, he is 3-for-20 with all three hits being singles and seven strikeouts, a .150 batting average. In Monday's 7-4 loss, he went 0-for-4 and struck out twice. The four-time MVP was recently dropped to fifth in the lineup and tried to lay down a bunt to lead off the sixth inning against Brewers left-hander Jojo Romero.His last home run came on Aug. 18 against the Colorado Rockies. Since Aug. 19, Ohtani has hit .157 over 24 games with no home runs, one RBI and 36 strikeouts. He is 14-for-90 (.156) with three extra-base hits and an OPS of .483 in that stretch. Between Aug. 19 and Sept. 7, he did not drive in a single run and landed on the injured list before being reactivated two weeks later.Before the NLCS, Roberts said the production has not matched expectations.Dodgers Management Expresses Confidence"It's not what we all expect, what he expects from himself," Roberts said. "But I do feel that the talent, the care, it's going to happen. So I think it's just up to all of us to keep winning baseball games." Friedman also expressed confidence in Ohtani. "I think Sho is the most talented player who has ever played this game," Friedman said. "He was obviously going through it over the summer. Took time off, which I think helped in a lot of ways.That being said, some bad habits were formed. But every time he steps to the plate, I have all the confidence in the world that something big's going to happen.Rookie Josue De Paula Could Replace Ohtani" If Ohtani is not the Dodgers' starting designated hitter in Game 3, rookie Josue De Paula would almost certainly take his place. Rosenthal and Woo reported that De Paula is the top candidate to replace him in the starting lineup, according to a team source who spoke anonymously to discuss the potential decision. The Brewers are starting left-handed pitcher Robert Gasser in Game 3, so the Dodgers could opt for a right-handed heavy lineup.De Paula has drawn two walks in three plate appearances this postseason. De Paula, the team's top prospect, hit .323 over 11 games in September with one home run, seven RBIs and an OPS of 1.081. This time last year, Ohtani had one of the greatest games in baseball history, striking out 10 batters and hitting three home runs in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Brewers.The Dodgers now face a 0-2 deficit and a decision that could leave their biggest star on the bench.