Shohei Ohtani bats sixth in Dodgers' NLCS Game 3 lineup, his lowest start since 2020

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts promised Tuesday that Shohei Ohtani would remain in the team's lineup for Game 3 of the NLCS on Wednesday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The lineup was released Wednesday afternoon, and it showed Ohtani batting sixth — the lowest he has ever appeared in the batting order during his time with the Dodgers.

Ohtani will follow Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker and Andy Pages. He'll bat ahead of Will Smith, Miguel Rojas and Tommy Edman.

Roberts said after his team's loss in Game 2 that they would discuss what is best for Ohtani, as the slugger is just 1-for-7 at the plate in the series while fighting through knee and biceps injuries. The Milwaukee Brewers lead the series 2-0.

"Yeah, I mean, obviously, it hasn't been good. He doesn't feel great. I think for me, it's having a conversation with him tomorrow, kind of try to figure out what's best for him, what's best for us. He certainly has earned that conversation and deserves it. "I'll have [that conversation] with him tomorrow."

"Yeah, I mean, obviously, it hasn't been good. He doesn't feel great. I think for me, it's having a conversation with him tomorrow, kind of try to figure out what's best for him, what's best for us. He certainly has earned that conversation and deserves it.

"I'll have [that conversation] with him tomorrow."

Ohtani reportedly said he was "very convicted" about improving and "adamant" he feels good enough to play, per MLB.com's Sonja Chen .

Following Roberts' announcement, the designated hitter spoke to the media through interpreter Will Ireton . He said, in part, "I take full responsibility. … The symptoms shouldn't be the reason why I can't hit."

Ohtani spoke about how his injuries have improved. "The symptoms have subdued a lot, especially when I was on the IL," he said. "As of now, the swing is a daily process of trying different things."

Ohtani's struggles have not been limited to this series. He's 3-for-20 with three walks and seven strikeouts in the postseason. He hasn't registered an extra-base hit, as all three of his hits have been singles. Over his six postseason games so far, he is slashing just .150/.261/.150.

The Dodgers slugger missed much of the final month of the regular season due to knee and biceps injuries. Since Aug. 14, he slashed .198/.305/.363 in his final 23 regular-season games.

Ohtani was added to the IL in September and didn't play from Sept. 9 to Sept. 23. When he was activated, he was still dealing with issues. He admitted ahead of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves that he would need to " manage " both injuries through the playoffs.

The Dodgers' designated hitter hit fourth in the series opener but then was dropped to fifth in the order for Game 2 — his lowest start in the batting order since 2020 with the L.A. Angels.

The NLCS is a best-of-seven series. Game 3 is Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET in Los Angeles.