Shohei Ohtani concerns grow in Dodgers NLDS Game 2 loss

Dodgers heroes, zeros from Game 2 loss: Shohei Ohtani still looks off

Heroes, zeros and the inside pitch from the Dodgers’ 3–2 loss to the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of the National League Division Series:

Zero

Shohei Ohtani’s first at-bat of this NLDS looked relatively normal, as he pulled a 105 mph line drive into right for a first-inning, Game 1 single.

Every subsequent trip to the plate, however, has been anything but.

Granted, Ohtani has not been the Dodgers’ biggest problem offensively. Will Smith (0–for–8), Andy Pages (0–for–7, one walk) and Tommy Edman (0–for–5, one walk) are all vying for that honor.

But if there was any hope that the team’s playoff-opening bye week would fix the two-way amid his ongoing right arm and left knee injuries, these two games have been a reminder of just how far he is from his typical self.

“I haven’t heard anything other than he feels fine,” manager Dave Roberts said. 

But…

“I don’t know if he’s trying to do too much because he doesn’t feel perfect,” the skipper added, in what felt more like a tacit acknowledgement.

A healthy Ohtani, after all, wouldn’t go 0–for–2 against plucky feel-good story Ray Kerr, striking out on an inside fastball in the first inning before popping out in a key spot with two aboard in the third.

A healthy Ohtani wouldn’t need to slap the ball the other way Ichiro-style just to get a base hit, as he did on his lone single in the fifth.

The most telling thing for the 32-year-old superstar the last two days?

The Braves haven’t been afraid to challenge him, throwing him nine fastballs in the middle-third of the strike zone so far. And he hasn’t been able to punish them for it, turning only one into a hit (that first-inning, Game 1 single) while also chasing more outside of the zone after failing to end his at-bats.

“He’ll be in there Game 3,” Roberts confirmed. “We’ve just got to, again, take good at-bats and expect the best.”

Hero

At least the Dodgers’ other pre-NLDS injury question mark has seemingly turned a corner.

In his final 66 games of the regular season (going back to July 5), Freddie Freeman had hit only one home run. In September, he slumped to a .184 average with only one extra-base hit while battling a right knee injury that threatened to linger into the playoffs.

However, the bye week seemingly did wonders for him, following up a one-hit, one-walk performance in Game 1 of the series with a two-hit night Sunday that included a solo homer to right field.

“I feel good, so I think we can be done with those questions,” he quipped when asked about his swing and knee injury. “Just more consistently getting myself in a good spot, being able to put good swings on it.”

Unsung hero

There were times this year when Edwin Díaz’s fastball velocity dipped as low as 92 mph.

During his scoreless appearance in the sixth inning on Sunday, the resurgent right-hander dialed it up to a season-high 100.8 mph.

That was just one impressive aspect of Díaz’s latest standout performance, in which he extended his scoreless streak to six innings (including 15 straight batters retired over his last five outings) since returning from his second injured list stint of the year on Sept. 18.

“Edwin was great,” Roberts said. “I think if you look at tonight, try to find some silver linings, that was a silver lining and certainly a positive.”

Key stat

Zero: As in 0 hits with runners in scoring position for the Dodgers on Sunday, and 0 runs scored via any method other than a home run so far in this NLDS.

Ironically, the club’s lack of power had been the bigger concern coming into the playoffs. 

While they could be (extremely) up-and-down in the regular season in situational at-bats, they still rank seventh in batting average with runners in scoring position and third in OPS.

That, however, hasn’t translated to October yet.

“Got to find a way to score some runs without hitting a home run,” Freeman said. “I think that’s our biggest thing right now.”

Quote of the night

“We’ve been in tougher spots than this one,” outfielder Teoscar Hernández said, when asked how crucial the team’s past October experience (especially in back-and-forth series like the 2024 NLDS and 2025 World Series) would be in the face of what is now a best-of-three showdown. “It’s a 1–1 series. We know they’re going to have the best pitcher that they have, starting pitcher, in [Game 3 with Chris] Sale. But we’re just gonna try to be ready and just go with the best plan and just try to execute it.”

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