Dodgers make drastic NLDS Game 3 lineup changes with Shohei Ohtani drop, Miguel Rojas

The Atlanta Braves' gamble to keep Chris Sale sitting in NLDS Game 2 paid off. Their bullpen game against the Los Angeles Dodgers did exactly what it was supposed to, and now the series moves to Atlanta tied 1-1, giving the Braves a chance to advance on their own turf.

LA's biggest concern was and still is their offense, and Dave Roberts decided to do something about it for Game 3. Fans expected a few changes — Miguel Rojas confirmed before the lineup was official that he would be starting today, batting sixth — but perhaps the bigger story is where Shohei Ohtani has ended up.

Roberts dropped him all the way down to fifth in the lineup, the lowest he's been in a batting order since 2020 with the Los Angeles Angels. Rojas is indeed batting sixth, and Mr. October Kiké Hernández is in the nine-spot. Tommy Edman and Max Muncy both get a day off, but should be available off the bench.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto is the day's starter, as expected. He and his 1.77 ERA on the road in the regular season will be tasked with getting the Dodgers back on top to force the series back to Chavez Ravine.

Dodgers send Shohei Ohtani all the way down to fifth in NLDS Game 3 lineup

Hernández appeared in Game 1, subbing in for Teoscar Hernández in left field in the ninth, but it was only a matter of time before the Dodgers employed their postseason ringer. (Kiké) Hernández started waking up toward the end of the regular season, almost as if his body could feel October right around the corner.

Lefty Muncy and switch-hitting Edman's exclusions against Sale make some sense; even though Muncy actually hits fellow lefties marginally better and Edman was best as a righty against a lefty, Rojas and Hernández provide better or similar defensive assurances in the infield, and Edman still has yet to shake out of a late-season slump.

The biggest story here, of course, is Ohtani, but something had to be done after his painful at-bats in Game 2. He did pick up a hit — a lucky single in his second at-bat — but his swings were making him look like a far cry from the feared hitter Dodgers fans know he can be.

He might even be vulnerable to an in-game replacement at DH in favor of Josue De Paula. If he looks anything like he did in Game 2, Roberts' finger should be fast on that trigger.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow