As the Dodgers fall behind in the NLCS, questions grow over whether Shohei Ohtani could be benched

The Los Angeles Dodgers have entered the NLCS facing a familiar championship pressure, but with a fresh layer of scrutiny. CBS Sports raised the question of whether the Dodgers would actually consider benching Shohei Ohtani as the club confronts a 0-2 deficit in the series.

At the center of that debate is not Ohtani’s reputation, which remains one of baseball’s most consequential two-way talents, but the Dodgers’ recent performance arc and how Ohtani has fit into it. CBS framed the situation as a “Shohei Ohtani problem,” tying the concern to a second half that the outlet described as being “gutted by injuries,” and to the Dodgers’ overall disappointment so far in the postseason.

The speculation is inherently complicated. Bench decisions in October are rarely about a single player’s talent, especially for someone of Ohtani’s stature. They are usually tied to matchups, lineup construction, and the difference between an available role and an optimal one in a given moment. CBS’s framing suggests the conversation inside the fan base and media ecosystem has moved from “how is he doing?” to “is he being used in the best way right now?”

Ohtani’s postseason workload and availability have often been part of the broader evaluation of how the Dodgers manage their most significant offensive and strategic asset. When a team falls behind in a short series, even small changes in lineup roles can become magnified. Against that backdrop, a 0-2 NLCS hole creates a heightened sense of urgency, and urgency tends to produce more extreme questions.

Dodgers baseball has typically leaned on star power but also on execution at the margins: at-bats, baserunning, bullpen rhythm, and the ability to keep opponents from dictating the game’s pace. If Los Angeles believes it can gain an edge by altering Ohtani’s role, that could be seen as a rational adjustment. If it concludes the adjustment risks sacrificing too much, the organization is more likely to stick with the default plan and trust that a series can turn on a few key swings.

The most important caveat is that CBS’s premise is a question, not a confirmed plan. Without an official statement or an announced change, the benching idea should be treated as debate around tactics and accountability, not as an established decision. Still, the fact that this question is now being openly asked is itself a report of how far the Dodgers’ postseason narrative has drifted from their expectation of control.

For what to watch next, the practical focus is likely to be on lineup announcements and Ohtani’s placement in the batting order, as well as any observable shifts in how Los Angeles structures its offensive approach around him. In a best-of-seven series, the Dodgers’ willingness to consider unconventional adjustments may also reveal what the front office and manager value most: preserving their standard identity or reallocating roles to solve the problems that have surfaced through the first two games.