David Ortiz Has Thoughts on Ohtani Being in LA Lineup; They Aren’t Pretty
Probably not a good sign that the Red Sox legend started the sentence with “Look, I love Ohtani…”
Shohei Ohtani's postseason has been far from stellar, and now he's been relegated to batting sixth in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for Wednesday's Game 3 against the Milwaukee Brewers. That's the lowest position Ohtani, as a designated hitter, has batted since joining the Dodgers. Even though Ohtani insists he's ready to play, many have harsh words for the left-handed batter.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Ohtani is "all on board," but Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz isn't so sure. Speaking on Fox Sports' pregame show, Big Papi said, "Look, I love Ohtani. Ohtani is the one guy that everyone comes to the field to see. I don't know how bad his injuries are, but I would not play him – let me tell you why."
Ortiz continued, "As a batter, he's a caliber, and he can strongly hit, but at this point in time, I'm unsure what Ohtani is capable of during his slump. That's why I would not play him at this moment. And remember, the team needs his presence, but at the same time, the rest of the squad is expecting him to come through." Ohtani's postseason performance hasn't been kind either.
He's batting .150 over six games, going 3-for-20, with seven strikeouts, three walks, and a stolen base. He hasn't hit a homer, driven in any runs, and has an OPS of .411.
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