Brief

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sticks with Shohei Ohtani despite slump

Roberts admits he has no concrete signs of improvement but maintains faith in Ohtani’s talent as the Dodgers prepare for the NL Championship Series.

By Felo News Desk · Published Mon, 12 Oct 2026 03:40:15 GMT

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Oct. 11 that he has no specific performance metric to justify optimism about Shohei Ohtani, but he continues to believe in the player’s talent as the team heads into the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

What happened

Ohtani, a four‑time MVP, entered the NL Division Series against the Atlanta Braves with a 2‑for‑13 line and a 22‑game slump that began on Aug. 18, during which he has hit .157, recorded only one RBI and not hit a home run. He reached base in all four games, partly thanks to walks. In Game 4, he celebrated the Dodgers’ win in Atlanta.

What the reports add

The New York Post article notes that Roberts highlighted Ohtani’s “good job of controlling the strike zone” and “better swings” despite the overall slump. Roberts also pointed out that Ohtani is limited by a left‑knee and right‑arm injury, which have kept him from his usual power output.

What was said

“There’s nothing right now I’m going to hang my hat on, outside of, I just believe in the person and the talent … I’m just never going to count Shohei out,” Roberts told reporters, according to the Post.

“I still think if he’s in the batter’s box, he’s still a threat,” Roberts added.

How it came about

Roberts’ comments follow a series of recent Dodgers stories about Ohtani’s injury status and lineup uncertainty, including a Sep. 23 report on Ohtani’s return from the injured list and a Sep. 22 piece on the team’s risky plan to play him every remaining regular‑season game. The manager’s “blind faith” reflects the Dodgers’ limited options as they rely on Ohtani’s two‑way abilities in the postseason.

Key facts

• Shohei Ohtani has a 22‑game slump dating from Aug. 18, hitting .157 with one RBI. (nypost.com)
• Ohtani went 2‑for‑13 in the NL Division Series against the Braves. (nypost.com)
• Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says he has no concrete signs of Ohtani’s improvement but still believes in his talent. (nypost.com)
• Ohtani is limited by left‑knee and right‑arm injuries and has not hit a home run since Aug. 18. (nypost.com)
• Roberts expects Ohtani to bat in the upcoming NL Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. (nypost.com)

Sources

• [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “Dave Roberts won’t ‘hang my hat’ on Shohei Ohtani returning to form in NLCS, but still has blind faith”