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Shohei Ohtani’s unusual postseason results led to a ‘comical’ Dodgers suggestion

The Dodgers aren’t changing anything with Shohei Ohtani.

The NL MVP frontrunner has produced some remarkable numbers this postseason — going 6-for-8 with runners on base and 0-for-19 with the bases empty — as the Dodgers enter Game 3 of an NLCS that’s even one game each with the Mets.

Still, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said there is no plan to move him from the leadoff position, where he has hit in 90 of the team’s regular-season games and all seven of their postseason games.

Shohei Ohtani struggled with the bases empty in the playoffs. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

“It’s just funny how things change, when there was a lot of concern about Shohei not being able to get hits with the runners in scoring position – and now we’re all trying to find ways … to get guys on base so he can hit . , right?” Roberts said Tuesday, according to ESPN.com.

“I find that a bit comical.”

Ohtani’s numbers are nearly identical in the two slots during the regular season, hitting .307 in the leadoff, compared to .314 in the two slots.

Ohtani has a higher leadoff on-base percentage (.392 vs. .387), and he had much better success from No. 1 (.680 vs. .602).

“I think it’s isolated,” Roberts said. “There have been times when he has had to reset, as all hitters do. Sometimes certain pitchers cause bad habits. And you have to identify that to then reset. … But to think that I’m going to move Shohei to the 4 or the 3, that’s just not going to happen.”

So expect Ohtani to continue hitting leadoff in the NLCS, where Mets pitcher Sean Manaea was able to get some silly-looking swings from the Japanese slugger in Game 2.

Dave Roberts won’t knock Ohtani out of the top spot, he told reporters. AP

Ohtani struck out in his first two at-bats on Monday, the first to open the game and the second to start the third inning, as Manaea gave the Mets a 7-3 victory.

“Regardless of how they pitch me, my plan is to keep the same approach as much as possible and not really be too focused on how they attack me… If I’m feeling good and the results aren’t there, then I don’t worry too much. too much worry because there’s luck involved,” Ohtani said through an interpreter, according to ESPN.

Ohtani posted nearly identical numbers between Nos. 1 and 2 during the regular season. Getty Images

The Mets turn to Luis Severino in Game 3 for the biggest start of his career yet as the Mets look to take control of the best of seven for the right to go to the World Series.