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Dave Roberts says Shohei Ohtani is adamant he feels good enough, will remain in lineup

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed on Tuesday that Shohei Ohtani will remain in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, citing the two-way star's insistence that he is physically capable of playing despite ongoing issues with his right biceps and left knee. Roberts emphasized that he never considered removing Ohtani from the roster, viewing the decision as a strategic choice to allow a brief reset similar to the approach taken with Freddie Freeman's ankle injury during the 2024 postseason.

Ohtani has taken batting practice on the field for three consecutive days, a routine he rarely employed during the regular season, yet this change in preparation has not yet translated into offensive success. The slugger has recorded three singles in his last 20 postseason at-bats, continuing a pattern of postseason struggles that includes a 2-for-19 performance in the 2024 World Series and a 4-for-33 stretch between his two-homer wild-card game and his historic NLCS performance last year.

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