MLB insider Jim Bowden shared details about the Los Angeles Dodgers' decision to keep Shohei Ohtani in the lineup despite fitness concerns during the 2026 National League Championship Series.
Ohtani's availability became a major talking point during the series against the Milwaukee Brewers. With the Dodgers trailing 0-3 and the Japanese superstar struggling at the plate, manager Dave Roberts, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, and general manager Brandon Gomes reportedly met with him ahead of Game 4.
The Dodgers were concerned about Ohtani's left knee irritation and right biceps tightness. The management considered removing him from the starting lineup to protect his health and give the offense a different look. However, Ohtani reportedly insisted on playing and refused to be benched for Game 4.
While sharing these meeting details ahead of Game 4 on '97.1 The Fan LA,' Bowden also said the Dodgers ultimately chose to trust their superstar rather than overrule his decision.
"What the Dodgers chose to do was, I'm going to trust my superstar. He says he's fine. And by the way, he homered in game four, right? So, I mean, we can't really second guess that final decision when he sits there and homers that next game, right? But I think it's the Kobe Bryant thing, right? Like with the Lakers, what would happen if Kobe went in and said, "I'm playing." Kobe would have played, right? I know it's a little different in the NBA. I get it. But I think what Dave Roberts and Andrew Friedman were doing was trusting their superstar. And I think we all understand that. And so they decided they were going to go with him."
However, Ohtani's home run was not enough to prevent the Dodgers from being swept by Milwaukee. He hit a three-run homer in the second inning of Game 4 but struck out in his other three at-bats, including a crucial late-game appearance with the tying run at third base. He finished the 2026 postseason with a .192 batting average and 10 strikeouts.
After the Dodgers' 6-4 defeat to the Brewers on October 15, Shohei Ohtani spoke to reporters in a post-game interview about the team's elimination. He praised Milwaukee's performance and acknowledged that the opponents had exposed weaknesses in his game.
"The Brewers were overall strong, and a very good team. And [they] really exposed parts of me as a player, and got to give some credit to that," said Shohei Ohtani.
Shohei Ohtani's injury concerns had also affected his availability during the regular season. He dealt with left knee inflammation in June and later missed time in September with right biceps inflammation. He finished the 2026 regular season with 523 at-bats, 89 runs, and 144 hits across 135 games.
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