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Shohei Ohtani leads off as Dodgers shake up lineup to stay alive vs Brewers

The Los Angeles Dodgers entered Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers facing a 0-2 series deficit, but manager Dave Roberts made a bold lineup adjustment to keep their playoff hopes alive. Despite Shohei Ohtani’s struggles at the plate—he was 1-for-7 through the first two games—Roberts kept him in the lineup but moved him down to sixth in the batting order, his lowest spot since 2020.

The top three hitters remained unchanged, with Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernández leading off, while Kyle Tucker and Andy Pages were shifted up to bat fourth and fifth, respectively. The decision marked the first time Ohtani had been demoted so far in the lineup during his four-time MVP career, signaling the Dodgers’ desperation to find a formula that works against the Brewers’ strong pitching staff.

With the series tied for the NL pennant, the Dodgers’ lineup shuffle aims to inject fresh momentum as they look to turn the tide at home.

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