- Los Angeles Dodgers. Dodgers' dugout drama: live snake interrupts NLCS game 2
- MLB. Shohei Ohtani crumbling under $700 Million pressure as Dodgers star faces unbelievable expectations
The Dodgers' loss to the Mets that evens the series 1-1 in the NLCS finals had for Los Angeles head coach Dave Roberts: Shohei Ohtani's unlucky night.
"I thought he didn't look comfortable versus Manaea. The heater is away. You can see he was just kind of trying to keep the ball away from Shohei. That's what they're going to do. Shohei is very good with the ball close to him. So they're just going to stay away, hard away. If it's spin, it's going to be away. Just didn't feel comfortable. And then after that I thought the righties that came in, they weren't about to give into him. And at least he took his walks." said Roberts.
Los Angeles superstar Shohei Ohtani was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and two walks on Monday in the Dodgers' 7-3 loss to the New York Mets in the second game of the NLCS.
Ohtani dropped to 0 for 19 with the bases empty in his first postseason.
L.A. manager Dave Roberts has no intention of moving Ohtani out of the leadoff spot.
"I want Shohei to get five at-bats a game," Roberts said. "I think he's our best hitter, and I want him up there five times."
Asked about Ohtani and the team not stealing bases in these two games of the NLCS finals series (0-for-19), the Dodgers manager was clear on his star player's performance.
"Not really. I think that, as far as on the offensive side, I think we've been pretty good offensively. I think the guys at the bottom have been doing a nice job of getting on base. And as far as moving him down, I just don't want to be too reactive. I don't really see the benefit. We've got to just make sure that our guys are just still swinging the bat well. And quite frankly, I want Shohei to get five at-bats a game. I think he's our best hitter, and I want him up there five times." said Roberts.
Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Wednesday in New York.