The Los Angeles Dodgers remain down two games to none in the National League Championship Series as they prepare to host the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium for Game 3. Despite growing speculation that Shohei Ohtani might be removed from the lineup due to his ongoing struggles, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that the star hitter will stay in the lineup after a meeting on Tuesday.
Ohtani has been a rare disappointment this postseason. He is hitting just .150 with no extra-base hits and seven strikeouts in 20 playoff at-bats, and his recent form is equally troubling. Over his last 35 games, Ohtani has a .197 average and a .629 OPS, with no home runs since August 18, marking a career-high 110 plate appearances without a homer. Yet Roberts said, “He was adamant that he can help us. He’s well enough to help us win a baseball game. So that’s all I needed to hear. I’ve never wavered in my belief in him.”
The Dodgers’ difficulties extend beyond Ohtani. The team has failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position, going 1-for-10 in the NLCS and just 2-for-26 (.077) in the entire postseason. Andy Pages stands as the only Dodger with a hit in that situation during the playoffs. In Game 2’s 7-4 loss, none of Los Angeles’s four runs came from a hit, underscoring the issue.
Other big names have struggled as well. Will Smith is 1-for-23 this postseason, and Mookie Betts is 5-for-21 without an extra-base hit. The Dodgers have yet to find consistent offensive traction as they attempt to stave off an 0-3 series deficit. Historically, teams down 0-2 in a best-of-seven series have a 36-2 elimination record, with just two overcoming the hole.
On the mound Wednesday night, the Dodgers will turn to left-hander Blake Snell, who is 4-1 with a 1.90 ERA in just nine starts this season. Snell’s health has limited his regular-season availability, but he has a solid 7-5 career playoff record with a 3.23 ERA over 86.1 innings. Snell last faced the Brewers in Game 1 of the 2025 NLCS, pitching eight shutout innings with one hit allowed and 10 strikeouts. Brewers manager Pat Murphy called it “perhaps the most dominant performance he’s seen by an opposing pitcher” during his tenure with the team.
Snell’s wildness could be a factor. In the 2024 NLDS Game 2 against Atlanta, he lasted just 3.2 innings after issuing five walks. The SportsLine Projection Model forecasts Snell to go five innings, striking out 6.2 batters and allowing 1.4 earned runs.
The Brewers will counter with lefty Robert Gasser, who finished the 2026 regular season 5-5 with a 3.87 ERA over 21 appearances. This will be Gasser’s second playoff start, following a four-inning outing last week against San Diego where he allowed one run on three hits. He is 2-0 with a 1.73 ERA over his last seven appearances.
Gasser’s regular-season struggles against the Dodgers are notable. He went 0-2 with a 5.91 ERA and opponents hit .273 against him in two starts. Ohtani is 0-for-7 off Gasser with four strikeouts, while Freddie Freeman is 2-for-2 with two doubles. The projection model expects Gasser to pitch 5.5 innings with 4.7 strikeouts and 1.9 earned runs allowed. DraftKings does not offer a moneyline price for Gasser’s win.
Milwaukee’s offense has been more productive with runners in scoring position, batting .281 (16-for-57) in the playoffs, compared to the Dodgers’ .077. Willson Contreras has been particularly effective in clutch moments. Gary Sanchez has yet to start in the playoffs but could appear tonight; he has a strong career record against Snell, batting 7-for-23 with five homers and eight walks.
Dodger Stadium is expected to provide a typical atmosphere for the 8 p.m. ET start on FS1, with winds blowing out at around 9 mph. The Dodgers remain favored at -185 on the moneyline, with 73% of the handle and 76% of bets backing them. The over/under is set at 6.5 runs, with the over 7.5 seeing heavy action.
The Dodgers face a steep climb if they want to extend their championship run. Their last 2-0 series deficit came in the 2023 NLDS against the Phillies, the last postseason series they lost. After rallying from 2-1 down in the 2024 NLDS and 3-2 down in the 2025 World Series, this marks their first 0-2 hole in the current postseason.
Game 3 begins with the Dodgers still relying on Ohtani to break out of his slump and Snell to deliver innings against a Brewers lineup that has found more success in pressure situations. The series resumes with Milwaukee ahead and the Dodgers needing to find their offense quickly.
According to CBS.
