Ohtani's 'Power Vanishes,' Dodgers Finally Adjust Batting Order... Kim Ha-seong, Yamamoto's Nemesis, Enters Starting Lineup as 9th Batter and Shortstop for Braves [NLDS]

*This content was translated by AI.

"He is not at 100% condition."

Dave Roberts (54), manager of the LA Dodgers, admitted it. After superstar Shohei Ohtani (32) started sluggishly in the postseason, the lineup was ultimately adjusted.

The LA Dodgers will play the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) National League Division Series (NLDS) as an away game at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, starting at 7 a.m. (KST) on the 7th.

The Dodgers set their starting lineup with Mookie Betts (shortstop), Freddie Freeman (first baseman), Teoscar Hernandez (left fielder), Will Smith (catcher), Ohtani (designated hitter), Miguel Rojas (second baseman), Andy Pages (center fielder), Kyle Tucker (right fielder), and Enrique Hernandez (third baseman). Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the starting pitcher.

The Dodgers, who moved aggressively from the offseason with the goal of a three-peat in the World Series, once again won their division to advance directly to the NLDS, but after winning Game 1, they lost Game 2 to Atlanta, which came through the Wild Card Series.

Having traveled away, the Dodgers desperately need a win as they deploy ace Yamamoto. Although Yamamoto, who single-handedly secured three wins in last year's World Series, is reliable, the lineup needs to generate power. In Game 2, the lineup bowed its head after managing only two runs.

The first player who must fulfill his role is Ohtani himself. Although he is a monster who has won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for three consecutive years, he posted somewhat disappointing results this season, possibly because he also pitched. In particular, he entered the postseason after going home run-less in the final 18 games of the regular season.

In the last two games, Ohtani recorded one hit each, finishing with two hits in eight at-bats, and both were singles. He failed to record any RBIs or runs scored. In Game 2, he added two strikeouts.

Manager Roberts revealed that Ohtani's physical condition is not fully intact. A day before the game, Roberts left open the possibility of changing the batting order, stating, "If I make such a decision, I will naturally explain the reason to Ohtani and talk with him." He added, "And ultimately, all my conversations with him are about what is best for the team, and he has always fully agreed."

He is increasingly swinging at pitches outside the strike zone and is being targeted more aggressively since entering the postseason. Opponents rarely throw balls to easy locations. Roberts expressed caution, saying, "Everything revolves around Ohtani's talent," and "The Braves will approach cautiously. If we keep giving them opportunities, they will continue to expand their arsenal. Unless we show restraint, they will continue to utilize their existing strategy."

Beyond Ohtani, the team needs lineup changes at this point. The Dodgers' team batting average was just .215 in the two NLDS games. Since Atlanta is also deploying left-handed ace Chris Sale as the starting pitcher, they had to enter the game with their best combination. As a result, Manager Roberts chose to drop Ohtani down to the fifth spot in the order.

Additionally, Enrique Hernandez was inserted into the starting lineup for the first time in the series. Considering head-to-head records, Max Muncy (no hits in seven at-bats against Sale, five strikeouts) and Tommy Edman (no hits in 11 at-bats) were excluded.

Nevertheless, Pages is different. Although he has gone hitless in seven at-bats with four strikeouts in this series, Manager Roberts showed trust by saying, "I will continue to give Andy freedom. I believe in him. I think he must play as a key player on our team if we are to win the World Series this year." He also started today's game. Catcher Smith has also gone hitless in eight at-bats but still wears the mask and carries the heavy responsibility of batting fourth.

Atlanta also brought changes to its lineup. The biggest among them is Kim Ha-seong (31) starting the game. He was named in the starting lineup as the ninth batter and shortstop today. Although he had a dismal season with a .116 batting average (15 hits in 129 at-bats) this year, and has gone hitless in four at-bats with two walks, three strikeouts, and one run scored in three games this fall including the Wild Card Series, he was targeted to start against Yamamoto.

Kim Ha-seong has been strong whenever facing Yamamoto. This season, in eight meetings, he recorded three hits (one home run) in seven at-bats, two strikeouts, and one RBI. Considering that Yamamoto had an outstanding season this year with a 14-9 record and a 2.53 ERA, these are notable figures.

Can Kim Ha-seong, who was sluggish throughout the season, write a turnaround? Can Ohtani revive in the changed batting order?

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.