Dodgers make desperate lineup changes; Shohei Ohtani confirmed not pitching in Game 6; Betts moved to cleanup hitter

On October 31st Beijing time, Game 6 of the MLB World Series was held in Toronto. The Los Angeles Dodgers, down 2-3 in the series, faced an elimination game; another defeat would end their hopes of repeating as champions. Manager Dave Roberts revealed two major choices before the match: Shohei Ohtani would not take the mound, and Mookie Betts was assigned as the cleanup hitter.

Regarding Ohtani’s role, Roberts clearly stated: "We have decided to rest Shohei today, focusing all efforts on winning this game. We will discuss future plans once we secure the victory." After throwing 93 pitches as the starter in Game 4, Ohtani’s physical recovery has been a critical consideration for the coaching staff.

In terms of pitching strategy, the Dodgers entrusted the key role to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, hoping he continues his excellent postseason form. Roberts also revealed that starter Roki Sasaki, who has rested for three days, is now prepared to pitch in relief and may handle multiple innings in this game.

The Dodgers made lineup adjustments for this game’s start: Mookie Betts was moved back to the cleanup spot, while the first three hitters were Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, and Freddie Freeman respectively. Miguel Rojas started at second base batting ninth, original second baseman Tommy Edman shifted to center field, and Enrique Hernández took position in left field.

Explaining Betts’ lineup change, Roberts said: "Placing Betts fourth is aimed at creating more scoring chances for him from the first three hitters. From a tactical standpoint, this setup allows our top three batters to have more plate appearances."

About Miguel Rojas’ starting role, the manager added: "He brings energy to the team defensively. This decision doesn’t reflect a lack of trust in other players, but is purely a tactical move."

It is worth noting that Betts has been struggling recently, hitting just .164 with a .258 on-base percentage over his last 13 games and 55 at-bats. The Dodgers’ coaching staff hopes that adjusting his spot in the lineup will help this powerful hitter regain his form.