The Dodgers are sticking with Kiké Hernández in the mix again for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, and they’re also giving Shohei Ohtani a familiar middle-of-the-order spot as they open against the Brewers.
Hernández will start at second base and hit ninth Sunday, making it three straight games in the lineup. He’s the kind of player who usually gets the nod against left-handers, but this is now his second straight start against a right-handed pitcher. He already showed why he can be a big-game option in Game 3 against Chris Sale of the Braves, when he went deep.
Ohtani, meanwhile, is batting fourth against Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski. That’s a notable shift from the usual Dodger setup.
Over nearly all of his three seasons in Los Angeles, Ohtani’s spot had been far more locked in, with leadoff being the standard and second his other regular landing spot. But after a month-plus slump, the Dodgers have been moving him around more often.
So far this postseason, he’s hit second, fourth and fifth.
“I haven’t settled on that,” manager Dave Roberts said Friday, “But it’s probably somewhere between one and five, I would say, or two and five.”
Ohtani’s power drought has stretched since Aug. 18 at Coors Field, when he last homered. Since then he has gone 101 plate appearances and 22 full games without a home run, batting .151/.277/.198.
He was quiet in the NLDS against Atlanta, going 2-for-16 with two singles and two walks, though he did swipe a bag in Game 4. Still, the Dodgers have reason to believe he can hurt Misiorowski. Ohtani is the only Los Angeles hitter to homer off the Brewers right-hander, doing it on July 8, 2025, and it was the only run Misiorowski allowed that day, his fifth major league start.
Misiorowski has been a tough matchup overall for the Dodgers, too. In three games against them, including last year’s NLCS, he owns a 1.59 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 17 innings.
Roberts said the goal for Ohtani - and everyone else in the lineup - is simpler than chasing a swing that changes everything.
“It’s one of those things that for tomorrow it’s just get on base, take good at-bats, and we’ll deal with whatever. Honestly it’s the same message for everyone,” Roberts said Saturday night in Milwaukee.
“Shohei is known for his slug, but when you’re facing Jacob, it’s just you’ve got to take good at-bats. If you run into a homer, great.
But if you can earn a walk, fantastic.
“I think it’s more of -- production is just doing anything positive for the club, and we need all guys to do their part.”
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