Dodgers weigh benching slumping Shohei Ohtani for NLCS Game 3 against Brewers
After falling 0-2 to the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS, the Dodgers are reportedly considering sitting Shohei Ohtani for Game 3. Manager Dave Roberts says a conversation with Ohtani comes first, and an ESPN report says Ohtani would sit only if Ohtani felt compromised by injury.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly considering benching Shohei Ohtani for Game 3 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, scheduled for Wednesday night. NewsweekN “Los Angeles is reportedly considering benching the struggling six-time All-Star.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “manager Dave Roberts is considering benching Ohtani for Game 3” Read at Fox News ↗ Centre · 1The Brewers lead the best-of-seven series 2-0 after winning Game 2 on Monday, 7-4, and are two wins from their first NL pennant since 1982. NewsweekN “The Milwaukee Brewers, meanwhile, are two wins away from their first NL pennant since 1982 after defeating Los Angeles in Game 2 of the NLCS, 7-4 on Monday.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Mixed · 2Ohtani, a four-time MVP, went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Game 2 and is 1-for-7 in the series. Newsweek puts the 2026 postseason line at 3-for-20 with no home runs or RBIs, three walks and seven strikeouts; Fox News says .150 in 24 plate appearances with no extra-base hits. NewsweekN “is 1-for-7 with one walk and three strikeouts in the NLCS and just 3-for-20 with no home runs, no RBIs three walks and seven strikeouts in the 2026 playoffs.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “hitting just .150 in 24 plate appearances with no extra-base hits” Read at Fox News ↗
Mixed · 2After Monday's loss, Roberts said, per The Athletic, "obviously it hasn't been good" and "He doesn't feel great," and that Roberts would talk with Ohtani on Tuesday to "figure out what's best for him, what's best for us." NewsweekN “"He doesn’t feel great. I think for me, it’s having a conversation with him tomorrow, kind of try to figure out what’s best for him, what’s best for us.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “"I’ll have (that conversation) with him tomorrow."” Read at Fox News ↗ Centre · 1The Athletic's Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal reported that rookie Josue De Paula would be the top candidate to replace the 32-year-old as designated hitter if Ohtani sits. NewsweekN “rookie Josue De Paula would be the "top candidate" to replace the 32-year-old as the team's designated hitter.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1ESPN's Alden Gonzalez reported Tuesday that the Dodgers will keep playing Ohtani if Ohtani deems themself healthy. A source said the team would sit Ohtani only if Ohtani felt compromised by the left knee and right biceps problems that earlier hindered them. NewsweekN “a source clarified that the team would sit Ohtani only if he believed he was compromised by the left knee and right bicep injuries that previously hindered him.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Mixed · 2Ohtani missed about two weeks on the injured list in September with left knee and right biceps pain. NewsweekN “missed two weeks on the injured list in September due to left knee and right biceps ailments.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “he missed about two weeks on the injured list with pain in both his left knee and right biceps late in the regular season.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1Fox News adds that Ohtani last homered on Aug. 18 and has hit .157 with one RBI since Aug. 19, striking out in nearly 35% of at-bats. It also says Roberts dropped Ohtani to fifth in the order in NLDS Game 3 against Atlanta, the lowest lineup spot since 2020, and that Ohtani squared to bunt leading off the sixth inning on Monday. Fox NewsR “Ohtani hit his last home run Aug. 18 and has been mired in an extended slump ever since.”“Roberts dropped the slumping superstar to fifth in the batting order, his lowest lineup position since 2020.”“Ohtani squared around to bunt while leading off the sixth inning of Monday's loss.” Read at Fox News ↗ Mixed · 2The Dodgers are chasing a third straight World Series. Newsweek calls the first three-peat in 26 years "on life support," and Fox notes the team scored just five runs on 10 hits in the two losses in Milwaukee. NewsweekN “The Los Angeles Dodgers' chances at MLB's first three-peat in 26 years are on life support.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “In their two losses in Milwaukee, they managed just five runs on 10 hits.” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Newsweek reports the possible benching as a reported option and adds the ESPN clarification that Ohtani would sit only if Ohtani felt hurt.
- Emphasis
- Series score, Ohtani's postseason stat line, the Athletic and ESPN reports, De Paula as likely replacement.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not cover Ohtani's August home run drought or the bunt attempt.
- Charged language
- “on life support”“massive slump”
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Fox News (OutKick) uses a dramatic, opinionated tone: benching Ohtani for "the most important game of the season" would be a shock, and Ohtani's at-bats suggest "something isn't right."
- Emphasis
- Ohtani's long slump since August, the bunt attempt, the lineup drop, and the stakes for the Dodgers.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out the ESPN report that Ohtani would sit only if Ohtani felt injured, and the De Paula replacement report.
- Charged language
- “paltry”“slap hitter”“send shock waves through the baseball world”“mired in an extended slump”
What every side reports
- The Dodgers trail the Brewers 0-2 in the NLCS.
- Ohtani is struggling badly at the plate this postseason.
- Roberts told The Athletic he would talk with Ohtani on Tuesday about what is best for Ohtani and the team.
- Ohtani missed about two weeks in September with left knee and right biceps problems.
Where accounts differ
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How likely a benching is
- Centre
- Newsweek says a benching is only reported as under consideration, and cites ESPN that Ohtani would sit only if Ohtani felt compromised by injury.
- Right
- Fox News leads with Roberts "considering benching" Ohtani and says the move "may" come because Roberts "may feel he has no other option"; it does not mention the ESPN report.
Los Angeles Dodgers organisation
Manager Dave Roberts acknowledges Ohtani's struggles and says he will talk with Ohtani to decide what is best for the player and team; an ESPN source says the plan is to keep playing Ohtani if healthy.
“He certainly has earned that conversation and deserves it.” — Newsweek
“If he feels good enough to play, the plan is to continue playing him,” — Newsweek
Shohei Ohtani person
No public comment from Ohtani appears in the coverage. Roberts says Ohtani does not feel great, and the decision reportedly depends on how healthy Ohtani considers themself.
“"He doesn’t feel great.” — Newsweek
“will continue playing (Ohtani) if he deems himself healthy.” — Newsweek
Milwaukee Brewers organisation
The Brewers lead 2-0 after a 7-4 Game 2 win and are two wins from their first NL pennant since 1982.
“two wins away from their first NL pennant since 1982” — Newsweek
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Dodgers Could Bench Shohei Ohtani For NLCS Game 3 vs Brewers Amid Massive Slump
Neutral Straightforward report on the possible benching, with Athletic and ESPN sourcing and the injury caveat.
Right1 article
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Dodgers could bench slumping Shohei Ohtani for most important game of the season: report
Critical Opinionated take stressing Ohtani's decline and the stakes, with a rhetorical opening and little sourcing beyond Roberts's Athletic quote.
- 13 Oct 16:42 First NewsweekN Dodgers Could Bench Shohei Ohtani For NLCS Game 3 vs Brewers Amid Massive Slump
- 13 Oct 17:19 +37m Fox NewsR Dodgers could bench slumping Shohei Ohtani for most important game of the season: report
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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