Bench Shohei Ohtani? Dodgers have to consider drastic action with season in danger

MILWAUKEE –– Entering Monday night, the Dodgers were not giving serious consideration to removing Shohei Ohtani from their lineup.One big loss, and four ugly at-bats later, however, that previously steadfast plan suddenly seemed capable of changing.Following a 7-4 defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers that put the Dodgers in a two-game hole in their National League Championship Series, manager Dave Roberts told The Athletic that the team would have “a conversation” with Ohtani about his status for Game 3.The development came after Ohtani’s worst performance this postseason, in which he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.Over six games in these playoffs, the four-time MVP is now just 3-for-20 with only three singles, two walks and seven strikeouts while battling ongoing right arm and left knee issues –– playing at what the team has repeatedly acknowledged is well less than 100%.Despite all that, the Dodgers have also been holding out hope for a revival from their two-way superstar.Roberts promised he would “come to life” eventually.

President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman predicted that “at some point, it’s going to click for him.”Now, however, the Dodgers can’t afford to keep waiting around for Ohtani magic.After back-to-back losses to open the NLCS in Milwaukee this week, they return home to Los Angeles just two more defeats away from elimination –– and only one from a 3-0 deficit that just one team in MLB history (Roberts’ iconic Boston Red Sox squad in the 2004 American League Championship Series) has ever come back from.“Can we [come back in this series]? Absolutely,” Roberts said.“But it’s just, you want to get that first [win].”Prior to Monday, Ohtani had at least reached base safely in each of his first five playoff games.Instead of continuing to progress with his swing, however, his 0-fer in Game 2 represented a notable step back.Before the game, the injury-hampered 32-year-old took batting practice on the field f...