Dave Roberts insists Shohei Ohtani will play in NLCS Game 3 at Dodger Stadium

The Dodgers head into NLCS Game 3 with a clear decision on their biggest offensive centerpiece. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Shohei Ohtani will be in the lineup at Dodger Stadium, framing it as a straightforward matter of readiness and confidence.

Roberts’ comments were delivered as a response to speculation that Los Angeles might consider resting Ohtani for the third game of the series. According to MLB’s report, Roberts was “adamant” that the four-time MVP feels good enough to play, indicating the decision was based on Ohtani’s condition rather than any strategic reshuffling alone.

While Ohtani’s presence in Game 3 answers the main question that surrounded the Dodgers’ lineup, the context matters. MLB’s account notes that there had been discussion tied to Ohtani’s recent performance, describing that he has struggled throughout Roberts’ tenure as manager. That backdrop helps explain why questions about how much to lean on him, even in a postseason spot as pivotal as the NLCS, could surface.

For the Dodgers, lineup stability in the championship round is also about timing. In postseason baseball, the margin for lineup experimentation is narrow, because each game can swing quickly and because managers face an opponent’s adjustments on a day-to-day basis. Roberts’ approach suggests that, at least for Game 3, he is choosing continuity with Ohtani in the role that maximizes his impact.

Ohtani’s inclusion also shifts how the Dodgers’ manager can shape the rest of the order. With their star in the lineup as planned, any other lineup changes would likely be about matching the opponent’s pitching and bullpen usage rather than compensating for the absence of Ohtani’s bat and his two-way value when he is on the field.

The Game 3 lineup confirmation does not end every question about the Dodgers’ offense, but it narrows the focus to what happens once Ohtani is back in the lineup. The immediate test is whether he can convert the extra certainty of a starting spot into production against the NLCS opponent, and whether the Dodgers’ surrounding hitters can create opportunities in the middle of the order.

What to watch next is whether the Dodgers treat Ohtani’s lineup status as a one-game decision or as the beginning of a sustained postseason usage plan. If Roberts’ comments reflect a clean bill of health and full readiness, the Dodgers’ next step will be to see if his performance stabilizes and whether it helps the team sustain rallies in key at-bats as the series moves forward.