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Dodgers adamant Shohei Ohtani is ‘going to click.’ But can they win World Series if he doesn’t?

The Los Angeles Dodgers are placing their postseason hopes on Shohei Ohtani finding his form after a dismal start to the playoffs. Through four games of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves, the two-way star has struggled mightily, posting a .154 batting average—second-lowest among Dodgers regulars—and failing to deliver impactful at-bats despite playing through persistent right arm and left knee issues.

While manager Dave Roberts and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman have repeatedly expressed confidence in Ohtani’s eventual resurgence, his production remains inconsistent, with a mix of walks, strikeouts, and weak contact in his last outing. The team’s lineup adjustments, moving him from fifth to cleanup spot in the series-clinching Game 4, reflect both a vote of confidence and a recognition of his current limitations.

With the Dodgers now advancing to the NLCS, the question looms: can Ohtani’s slump be reversed, or will the team need to rely on others to secure a championship?

Friedman’s insistence that ‘it’s going to click for him’ underscores the Dodgers’ reliance on their $700 million investment, but the lack of tangible progress so far leaves room for doubt. Ohtani’s lone bright spot in the NLDS came Wednesday, when he drew a walk, stole second, and scored on an error—but his subsequent at-bats ended in outs.

The Dodgers’ postseason trajectory now hinges on whether Ohtani’s recent struggles are a temporary blip or a sign of deeper issues, as the team prepares for its next challenge in the postseason.

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