Tonight's Game 1 is Tarik Skubal against Jacob Misiorowski, and Milwaukee's ace has dominated the Dodgers in previous meetings, posting a 1.59 ERA with 27 strikeouts over 17 innings. That makes Shohei Ohtani's adjustments particularly important.

Is Shohei Ohtani About to Get Hot? The Dodgers Sure Hope So!

There is an old saying in baseball that hitting is contagious. Well, if that's true, Shohei Ohtani could use a healthy dose of whatever is going around in the Dodgers' clubhouse.

Let's face it, Shohei has not exactly been Shohei lately. He managed just two hits in 13 at-bats during the NLDS, both singles in the first two games. For a player who can change a game with one swing, that is hardly what Dodgers fans have come to expect.

But here's the interesting part: Ohtani is working on something specific, and it might explain why he hasn't looked like himself at the plate.

Before Game 1 of the NLCS against Milwaukee, Shohei took an unusually extended batting practice session against a pitching machine. That might not sound particularly newsworthy, but Ohtani has reportedly taken on-field batting practice only a handful of times this season.

Dodgers co-hitting coach Aaron Bates explained that the focus was on preventing Ohtani from rolling his top hand over too early. When that happens, the barrel can pass through the hitting zone prematurely, reducing the time the bat stays on the ball's path.

The goal is to get Shohei comfortable with his setup, maintain a better swing path, finish his swing properly, and avoid trying to generate maximum power with every swing.

In other words, he needs to quit trying to hit every pitch into the next ZIP code.

Sometimes, less is more, even when you're Shohei Ohtani.

But Is He Really Healthy?

Andrew Friedman has also offered some interesting insight into Ohtani's physical condition. According to Friedman, Shohei is feeling considerably better following his recent stint on the injured list. However, Friedman acknowledged something that should surprise absolutely nobody: Ohtani isn't always forthcoming about how he feels physically.

Friedman indicated that Shohei, much like Freddie Freeman and Clayton Kershaw, has a tendency to minimize discomfort because he wants to compete.

That's admirable, but it also makes evaluating his physical condition more difficult.

There is a fine line between playing through discomfort and allowing an injury to compromise your performance. It is fair to wonder whether some of Ohtani's recent struggles have been mechanical, physical, or a combination of both.

The Dodgers Need Shohei to Be Shohei

Here is what I find encouraging: Ohtani and the coaching staff appear to have identified something tangible to work on. They aren't simply telling him to relax, see the ball, and swing harder.

They're making adjustments.

Of course, understanding a mechanical problem and fixing it against major-league pitching are two entirely different things. And October is not exactly the ideal time to rebuild a swing.

Nevertheless, great hitters make adjustments. That's part of what makes them great.

If Ohtani can stay through the baseball a fraction of a second longer, stop rolling over those pitches, and let his tremendous natural power do the work, he could turn things around very quickly.

And when Shohei gets hot, he doesn't merely contribute. He can carry an entire offense.

The Dodgers have managed to advance without getting much production from their biggest superstar. Imagine what might happen if he starts hitting like the Shohei Ohtani we all know.

My prediction? Shohei is due. And if the mechanical adjustment takes hold, somebody is going to pay for it.

Hopefully, somebody is wearing a Milwaukee Brewers uniform.

What do you say? Is Shohei just going through a mechanical slump, is there something physical bothering him, or is he about to explode offensively?

The Dodgers don't need Shohei to get hot to beat the Brewers... they can have any number of other players step up... BUT it would sure make it easier if he does.

The Dodgers' and Brewers' official 26-man NLCS rosters are due this morning, Sunday, October 11, 2026, ahead of tonight's Game 1 at 8:00 PM Eastern.

MLB has not specified an exact public release time.

The big question for the Dodgers is whether they'll carry 13 pitchers and 13 position players, rather than the 12 pitchers and 14 position players they carried in the NLDS.

Dave Roberts has indicated that the Dodgers are considering adding a pitcher, meaning someone from the bench could be left off. Miguel Rojas's back injury is another factor.

For the Dodgers, the names worth watching are Josue De Paula, Hyeseong Kim, Justin Wrobleski, Jack Dreyer, and Miguel Rojas.

The series storyline also involves the Brewers' Game 2 pitcher, Logan Henderson. It is rumored that Tarik Skubal would have been a Brewer IF the Brewers had included Henderson in a deal with the Tigers. Henderson has started 23 MLB games and is 14-3 with a 2.33 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP. It does not get easier after the Miz. This is going to be a hard-fought series. Everyone had better bring their A-game.

Prediction: Dodgers in seven!

Note: I had AI make the meme, and the first time it generated it, it showed Miz and Skubal as both LH. I told it to fix it, so this is the result. Sometimes AI is stupid!