Shohei Ohtani has gone hitless in his last 12 at-bats but still received two intentional walks to reach base.

In the first game of the National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1, thanks to left-hander Blake Snell’s flawless eight innings with 10 strikeouts and no runs allowed. Although Shohei Ohtani remained hitless, dropping his postseason batting average to .138, he was intentionally walked twice during the game.

During the National League Division Series, the Dodgers eliminated the favored Philadelphia Phillies in just four games, but Ohtani managed only one hit in 18 at-bats in Game 2, resulting in a batting average of .056. Entering the NLCS, he continued to struggle, going hitless in four at-bats in the opener, extending his hitless streak to 12 at-bats. Over his last 20 plate appearances, he has recorded just one hit, with an overall postseason batting average of .138 through seven games.

Despite this, the Brewers remained cautious in their approach. In the top of the fifth inning, with one out and a runner on second, Ohtani was intentionally walked as the Brewers preferred to face Mookie Betts directly. This strategy paid off as Betts hit into a double play, halting the Dodgers’ momentum.

However, a similar scenario in the top of the ninth inning did not go as planned for the Brewers. With one out and runners on second and third, they again intentionally walked Ohtani to load the bases. Betts then displayed remarkable plate discipline, drawing a walk that scored the crucial second run. The Dodgers ultimately won 2-1, with that run proving to be the decisive turning point.

In fact, this is not the first time this season that Ohtani has been intentionally walked in the postseason, nor the first time opponents have paid a price for this tactic. In Game 4 of the previous series against the Phillies, Philadelphia employed the same strategy in the bottom of the seventh inning, choosing to walk Ohtani to get to Betts. Betts, exhibiting excellent batting discipline, drew a walk that brought in a key run, helping the Dodgers complete a comeback and advance to the NLCS.