Ohtani's Struggles: Injury Impact on His Postseason Performance

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Shohei Ohtani’s Injuries and Timing Raise Questions About His Postseason Slump

The biggest question surrounding Shohei Ohtani is whether his struggles stem from his injured left knee, right biceps soreness, a previous neck issue, his swing or the mental side of the game.

Ohtani may need a procedure on his left knee after the season. He also experienced right biceps soreness in late July and early August while attempting to return to the mound. That plan was eventually abandoned, especially after the Dodgers acquired Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline.

Those physical issues may have disrupted Ohtani’s swing. Athletes often compensate for injuries elsewhere in the body, and that can affect a hitter’s timing, hip movement, front leg and pitch selection. In Ohtani’s case, several of those problems appear to be happening at once.

Ohtani does not appear to be completely healthy, but he told the media during the Dodgers’ workout that his health should not be affecting his offensive production. That points to timing and confidence as the primary concerns. When Ohtani is struggling, he chases pitches outside the strike zone and does not resemble his usual self in the batter’s box.

Through his first six games of the postseason, Ohtani has not looked like the player who delivered 10 strikeouts and three home runs against the Brewers to send the Dodgers to the 2025 World Series. He also struggled at times during the 2024 postseason while dealing with a shoulder injury in the World Series against the Yankees.

The lack of home runs has been especially noticeable. Ohtani has not homered since August 16, an unusual drought for him. His timing appears to be off, and the injuries he has managed throughout the season may have contributed to the problem.

Ohtani believes the only way to improve is to remain in the lineup. He told the Dodgers that he intended to play rather than sit for Game 3 or Game 4, and the team accepted that decision. Given his role in helping the Dodgers win two World Series and pursue a third consecutive championship, the team is allowing him to work through the slump at the plate.

Ohtani is also not the only hitter struggling. Will Smith and several other players in the Dodgers’ lineup have not been producing, making the offensive issues broader than one player.