Dodgers Restore Shohei Ohtani To Leadoff Spot For NLCS Game 4
The Los Angeles Dodgers have reinstated Shohei Ohtani to the leadoff position in their National League Championship Series Game 4 lineup as they face potential elimination.
Dothan, AL, October 15, 2026 —
The Los Angeles Dodgers have reinstated Shohei Ohtani to the leadoff position in their lineup for Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, with the team facing potential elimination. The move puts Ohtani at the top of the batting order for a game carrying significant stakes for the Dodgers’ postseason hopes.
The available information does not specify why the Dodgers made the change, when Ohtani last occupied the leadoff spot, or what his position in the lineup had been immediately before Game 4. It also does not identify the opposing team, the game’s location, or any other lineup changes. No details were provided about Ohtani’s recent performance or his health.
Those omissions leave the reasoning behind the decision unclear. The confirmed development is the lineup placement itself: Ohtani is back in the leadoff role for Game 4. The circumstances make the choice notable, as the Dodgers enter the game facing the possibility of elimination, but no explanation from the team or its personnel was included.
The result of Game 4 was not provided, so the information does not establish whether the Dodgers extended the series or were eliminated. Further details about the matchup, the club’s rationale, and the outcome are not available in the summary. For now, the reported change is limited to Ohtani’s return to the top of the Dodgers’ batting order for the pivotal game.
Story summarized from the original created by BETH HARRIS, Associated Press on www.wdhn.com, see more information here.
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