Copyright Newsweek
The Los Angeles Dodgers are facing a surprising deficit in the World Series after losing two out of three games at home against the Toronto Blue Jays. Now they will have to win two games back in Toronto if they hope to repeat as champions. And it’s clear that they’ll need some more heroics from two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani if they want to keep that hope alive. In addition to serving as a strong starter throughout the playoffs, Ohtani has essentially carried the Dodgers’ offense as well. “This postseason, L.A. is averaging 6.3 runs in games in which Ohtani homers,” Russell Dorsey noted for Yahoo! Sports after World Series Game 5. “In games he doesn’t, including Game 5, they’re averaging 3.5 runs.” Ohtani’s importance to the Dodgers was evident in Game 3, when he reached base a historic nine times and slugged two homers in the team’s sole World Series victory at home. But that game wore on for a brutal 18 innings and it resulted in a health setback for Ohtani, as he was pushed to receive some special medical treatment afterward. “Shohei Ohtani received IVs following his amazing, record performance in Game 3, which was the day before his (pitching) start (in Game 4),” Jon Heyman reported for the New York Post. “Ohtani lasted into the seventh inning despite needing medical attention into the early morning that same day (the IVs were administered after midnight).” Heyman added that Ohtani was seen leaving the Dodgers’ facility past 1 a.m. on Tuesday, giving him very little time to recover and prepare for taking the mound against the Blue Jays later that day. Ohtani pitched well in that game, but it’s possible his offense is beginning to lag. He has no hits across seven at-bats in the two games since that 18-inning marathon.
