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Slumping Smith, Shohei give Dodgers big ABs from bottom of order

The Dodgers’ postseason struggles took a brief turn in Game 3 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium, as two of their biggest offensive weapons finally showed signs of life after a dismal stretch. Will Smith, who had gone 1-for-25 in the postseason, delivered a clutch two-run double in the sixth inning with the bases loaded, sparking a rally that briefly put Los Angeles ahead.

The catcher’s timely hit came just hours after his wife announced the birth of their third daughter, Carter, adding personal context to his performance. Shohei Ohtani also contributed, drawing a walk to set up the rally and later hitting a hard single up the middle—his first notable contact since June 20—though Milwaukee’s late offense ultimately secured a 6-2 win, leaving the Dodgers down 3-0 in the series.

Manager Dave Roberts made strategic lineup adjustments to shake up the offense, moving Smith from the cleanup spot to seventh and Ohtani to sixth. The changes aimed to create better matchups and spread pressure across the lineup, with Roberts emphasizing the importance of lineup length and flexibility.

Despite the loss, the sixth-inning surge offered a rare glimpse of hope for a Dodgers offense that had been completely silent in five prior innings against Milwaukee starter Robert Gasser.

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