Dodgers heroes, zeros from NLDS Game 2 loss: Shohei Ohtani concerns grow

Dodgers heroes, zeros from Game 2 loss: Shohei Ohtani still looks offHeroes, zeros and the inside pitch from the Dodgers’ 3–2 loss to the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of the National League Division Series:Zero The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.Please provide a valid email.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story Shohei Ohtani’s first at-bat of this NLDS looked relatively normal, as he pulled a 105 mph line drive into right for a first-inning, Game 1 single.Every subsequent trip to the plate, however, has been anything but.Granted, Ohtani has not been the Dodgers’ biggest problem offensively.

Will Smith (0–for–8), Andy Pages (0–for–7, one walk) and Tommy Edman (0–for–5, one walk) are all vying for that honor.But if there was any hope that the team’s playoff-opening bye week would fix the two-way amid his ongoing right arm and left knee injuries, these two games have been a reminder of just how far he is from his typical self.“I haven’t heard anything other than he feels fine,” manager Dave Roberts said. But…“I don’t know if he’s trying to do too much because he doesn’t feel perfect,” the skipper added, in what felt more like a tacit acknowledgement.A healthy Ohtani, after all, wouldn’t go 0–for–2 against plucky feel-good story Ray Kerr, striking out on an inside fastball in the first inning before popping out in a key spot with two aboard in the third.A healthy Ohtani wouldn’t need to slap the ball the other way Ichiro-style just to get a base hit, as he did on his lone single in the fifth.The most telling thing for the 32-year-old superstar the last two days?The Braves haven’t been afraid to challenge him, throwing him nine fastballs in the middle-third of the strike zone so far.And he hasn’t been able to punish them for it, turning only one into a hit (that first-inning, Game 1 si...