<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/dodgers-dave-roberts-not-keen-on-making-big-shohei-ohtani-move-in-game-3-vs-mets');   ga('set', 'title', 'Dodgers’ Dave Roberts not keen on making big Shohei Ohtani move in Game 3 vs. Mets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Dodgers-news-Los-Angeles-not-keen-on-making-big-Shohei-Ohtani-move-in-Game-3-vs.jpg"></figure><h1>Dodgers’ Dave Roberts not keen on making big Shohei Ohtani move in Game 3 vs. Mets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-15T23:25:35-07:00">October 15th, 11:25pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-15T23:47:48-07:00">October 15th, 11:47pm</time><address><a>Matty Breisch</a>Matty Breisch is a multifaceted writer who specializes in NFL and WWE content at ClutchPoints. He can be read at Heavy, FanSided, Philadelphia Sports Network, and right here at ClutchPoints. Are you ready to read about football and wrestling? Well, you've come to the right place.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After struggling mightily<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-new-mets-end-shohei-ohtani-streak-nlcs-game-1" rel="noopener"> as the Los Angeles Dodgers lead-off hitter</a> through the playoffs, recording just six hits and a single home run over his seven postseason games of the season, some fans have been banging the table to see another hitter, likely Mookie Betts, take Shohei Ohtani’s spot at the top of the order.</p><p>On paper, it makes sense; <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-the-hole-shohei-ohtani-game-new-york-exploit-padres">while Ohtani is a certified weapon on base</a>, he’s rarely getting there, and as a result, the Dodgers are often starting off the game down and out before Betts goes up to bat.</p><p>Discussing this concept ahead of Game 3 of the NLCS with reporters, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the suggestion but let it be known that he <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41817702/dodgers-keeping-ohtani-leadoff-nlcs-game-3-vs-mets" rel="noopener">doesn’t plan to make a move any time soon</a>.</p><p>“It’s just funny how things change, where there was a lot of concern about Shohei not being able to get hits with the runners in scoring position — and now we’re all trying to find ways… to get guys on base so he can hit, right?” Roberts said. “I kind of find that comical, a little bit.”</p><p>Asked if he thinks Ohtani can get his game back on track ahead of an incredibly important Game 3, Roberts asserted that he believes the star DH’s issues are “isolated” and that he will eventually get back on track… from the lead-off position.</p><p>“I think it’s isolated. There have been times that he has to reset, as all hitters do. Sometimes certain pitchers sort of kind of trigger bad habits,” Roberts explained. “And you’ve got to identify that to then reset… But to think that I’m going to move Shohei to the 4 or the 3, that’s just not going to happen.”</p><p>Could the Dodgers benefit from placing Ohtani at the three or the four spot? Sure, maybe the MVP would attack the ball differently with players on base instead of hoping that he makes contact from the dugout. But considering Ohtani is the highest-paid player in baseball, if he wants to be a lead-off hitter, it’s hard to justify moving the MVP to a different spot, especially with the season on the line.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Dodgers’ Dave Roberts not keen on making big Shohei Ohtani move in Game 3 vs. Mets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mets-new-mets-end-shohei-ohtani-streak-nlcs-game-1');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mets end Shohei Ohtani’s insane streak in NLCS Game 1');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Mets-news-New-York-ends-Shohei-Ohtanis-insane-streak-in-NLCS-Game-1.jpg"></figure><h1>Mets end Shohei Ohtani’s insane streak in NLCS Game 1</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-13T20:56:32-07:00">October 13th, 8:56pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-13T20:56:32-07:00">October 13th, 8:56pm</time><address><a>Brayden Haena</a>Brayden Haena is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. A die-hard San Francisco Giants fan and a football fanatic, Brayden further channels his baseball enthusiasm through his podcast, where he delves into the latest in sports with engaging commentary. He also serves as the Defensive Coordinator for Heritage High School. His commitment to sports journalism is evident in his diverse experiences with ContraCosta.news and his dedication to delivering compelling and insightful content.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>In a pivotal moment <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-mets-bold-predictions-2024-nlcs">during Game 1 of the NLCS</a>, New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez accomplished what no other catcher had managed in nearly three months: he caught Shohei Ohtani attempting to steal second base. This play not only halted Ohtani’s impressive streak of 36 consecutive successful stolen bases but also marked a significant defensive highlight in an otherwise challenging game for the Mets.</p><p>Ohtani, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/shohei-ohtani-already-made-mlb-obscene-amount-of-money">the Los Angeles Dodgers’ phenomenal two-way star</a>, had been a dominant force on the base paths, with his last being caught stealing incident occurring on July 22 by San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey. This streak of agility and speed had contributed significantly to Ohtani’s historic season, where he became the first player in Major League Baseball history to achieve a 50-50 season—smashing 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="instagram-media"><div style="padding: 16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBFfib3NFCJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="line-height: 0; padding: 0 0; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; width: 100%;" target="_blank"> <div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div><div style="display: flex;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div><div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"><div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div><div></div><div></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div><div></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"><div></div><div></div><div></div></div></div><div style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div><div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div><p></p></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBFfib3NFCJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by MLB ⚾ (@mlb)</a></p></div></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>The game itself had started strongly in favor of the Dodgers, with Ohtani driving in the first run with an RBI single off Mets starter Kodai Senga, helping to set the tone for an early 3-0 lead. Ohtani’s influence continued as he reached base again in the fourth inning, this time capitalizing on a fielding error by Mets right fielder Starling Marte to eventually score on Freddie Freeman’s single, widening the gap to a 6-0 Dodgers advantage.</p><h2><b>Dodgers blow out Mets in Game 1</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ohtani-and-Lindor.jpg"><figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Despite the Mets’ struggling to contain the Dodgers’ offense, Alvarez’s play was a moment of defensive excellence that showcased his skill and timing, critical for a catcher facing base runners as adept as Ohtani. This caught-stealing not only ended Ohtani’s run on the bases but also provided a morale boost for the Mets, demonstrating their ability to make significant plays against key players.</p><p>Alvarez, the Mets’ young catcher, has shown flashes of brilliance behind the plate, and his successful throw to catch Ohtani is indicative of his potential to rise as a premier defensive catcher. Plays like these are vital in postseason games, where momentum can shift rapidly, and defensive stops are as crucial as offensive firepower.</p><p>As the series progresses, the Mets will undoubtedly look to build on such defensive stops to swing the momentum in their favor. The challenge will be to harness this energy into more consistent performance across all innings to counteract the formidable Dodgers lineup. For Ohtani and the Dodgers, this minor setback is unlikely to dampen the strategic use of his speed, which has been a significant factor in their offensive strategy.</p><p>The NLCS opener has set the stage for what promises to be an intensely competitive series. As both teams adjust their strategies, players like Alvarez who can make pivotal plays will be under the spotlight, expected to perform at their best to tilt the balance in their team’s favor. As for Game 1, the Mets need to focus on what’s ahead, and fix all that went wrong Sunday night.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mets end Shohei Ohtani’s insane streak in NLCS Game 1

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mets-news-the-hole-shohei-ohtani-game-new-york-exploit-padres');   ga('set', 'title', 'The ‘hole’ in Shohei Ohtani’s game the Mets must exploit like Padres');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/The-hole-in-Shohei-Ohtanis-game-New-York-must-exploit-like-Padres.jpg"></figure><h1>The ‘hole’ in Shohei Ohtani’s game the Mets must exploit like Padres</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-13T15:39:35-07:00">October 13th, 3:39pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-13T15:39:35-07:00">October 13th, 3:39pm</time><address><a>Christopher Hennessy</a>Christopher Hennessy graduated with a journalism degree from Fordham University in 2022. He has also worked at Spectrum News One in Albany, New York and with The Hockey Writers as a New York Islanders writer. Chris is originally from Connecticut and is a lifelong New York Yankees, Islanders, and Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Los Angeles Dodgers <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-news-shohei-ohtani-reaction-nlds-win">beat the San Diego Padres in the NLDS</a> without much help from superstar Shohei Ohtani. The designated hitter went 4-20 with two walks and ten strikeouts in his first postseason series. In the process, the Padres exposed one of the very few holes in Ohtani’s game. The Athletic’s Andy McCullough <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5839176/2024/10/13/mets-dodgers-shohei-ohtani/?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=mlbtw&amp;source=mlbtw" rel="noopener">detailed how the</a> Mets can take advantage of this deficiency in the NLCS.</p><p>Rival evaluators believe pitchers can disarm Ohtani by firing fastballs up and in. That is considered a hole Ohtani has not yet closed. Yet reaching that location can be perilous. Misses can leak over the plate, in the sort of spot where Ohtani can send them into orbit. Facing Ohtani, [Padres reliever Tanner] Scott did not miss. He pumped fastballs for strikes and eventually lured him out of the strike zone with high-90s heat.</p><p>McCullough details how Padres closer Tanner Scott was deployed during the five-game series. He faced Ohtani in four of the games, striking him out all four times. The Mets do not have a pitcher with the capabilities of Scott, even with Edwin Diaz coming out of the bullpen.</p><p>Ohtani will provide a tough matchup for the Mets, as he does for almost every team in the league. He put together the first-ever 50-homer, 50-steal season in his first year with the Dodgers. He must continue his great season in October.</p><h2>Shohei Ohtani must dominate in the NLCS</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Shohei-Ohtani-with-Los-Angeles-Dodgers-2.jpg"><figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Dodgers have a significant disadvantage at starting pitcher despite having the better record in the regular season. They may roll with a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-news-dave-roberts-eye-opening-walker-buehler-game-2-plan-mets">bullpen game in Game 2</a> because of the cavalcade of injuries to their rotation. Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow are unavailable for the entire postseason.</p><p>That means that the Dodgers’ offensive starts have to produce for them to win the National League pennant. That includes Ohtani, who had never played in the MLB postseason before last week. Now that he is accustomed to the brightest lights in the game, he has to shake the rust off.</p><p>Against the Mets this season, Ohtani went 6-19 with five runs scored in just five games. New York’s pitching has not been able to get him out this year and there’s a chance that continues in the biggest games of the season. Aaron Judge has shown that regular-season greatness does not always translate to postseason success. Ohtani must make sure he does not fall into that category by the end of the NLCS.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

The ‘hole’ in Shohei Ohtani’s game the Mets must exploit like Padres

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mets-news-kodai-senga-shohei-ohtani-question-nlcs');   ga('set', 'title', 'Mets’ Kodai Senga shuts down Shohei Ohtani question before NLCS');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Mets-news-Kodai-Senga-shuts-down-Shohei-Ohtani-question-before-NLCS.jpg"></figure><h1>Mets’ Kodai Senga shuts down Shohei Ohtani question before NLCS</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-12T14:09:49-07:00">October 12th, 2:09pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-12T14:17:19-07:00">October 12th, 2:17pm</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The New York Mets kept their improbable, remarkable season alive with a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. All four runs came on a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-francisco-lindor-breaks-internet-dagger-phillies">dagger grand slam by Francisco Lindor</a> as the Mets eliminated the Phillies. New York now moves on to the Championship Series where they’ll face the Los Angeles Dodgers.</p><p>The NLCS sets up a unique matchup between Mets’ starting pitcher Kodai Senga and the Dodgers’ superstar DH Shohei Ohtani. It will mark the first time the two Japanese-born players face off against each other in the playoffs. But if you think that means Senga is up for answering a bunch of Ohtani-related questions, think again!</p><p>Prior to the start of the NLCS on Sunday, reporters asked Senga how excited fans in Japan are for the matchup. The second-year hurler simply responded, “I’m not in Japan, so <a href="https://x.com/SNYtv/status/1845140432898097516" rel="noopener">I’m not sure</a>,” according to SNY on X.</p><p>Undeterred, the same reporter asked how Senga would approach pitching to Ohtani. “I don’t think any pitcher would reveal how we’re going to approach an opposing hitter at this point,” he replied through a translator, via SNY.</p><h2><b>Kodai Senga is focused on starting the NLCS for the Mets</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Kodai-Senga.jpg"><figcaption>Eric Hartline-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Mets snuck into the playoffs with the National League’s sixth seed. New York embarked on an <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-harrison-bader-most-fun-traveling-circus">epic 16-game road trip</a> in which the team clinched a postseason berth during a makeup double header the day after the regular season ended. After toppling the Milwaukee Brewers and the Phillies, New York is moving on to the Dodgers. And the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-new-york-official-kodai-senga-nlcs-game-1-decision">Mets will send Senga out to start Game 1 of the NLCS</a>.</p><p>The Mets landed <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-new-york-wins-kodai-senga-sweepstakes-with-5-year-75-million-deal">Senga on a five-year, $75 million deal</a> prior to the 2023 season. He was excellent in his first year in the majors, going 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA, 10.9 K/9 and an ERA+ of 140 in 29 starts for New York. He finished second in Rookie of the Year voting and seventh in the Cy Young race.</p><p>Unfortunately, Senga’s sophomore season was an injury plagued mess. A <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-kodai-senga-gets-three-week-timeline-after-picking-up-shoulder-injury">shoulder ailment pushed his 2024 debut</a> back to July 26. And, despite looking good in his first appearance, a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-new-york-kodai-senga-injury-setback">calf injury kept him sidelined</a> for the remainder of the season. The Mets anticipated their ace returning for the playoffs and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-kodai-senga-open-bullpen-role-injury-return">Senga was open to working out of the bullpen</a> if necessary.</p><p>While he didn’t pitch in the Mets’ Wild Card Series win over the Brewers, the team <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mets-news-kodai-senga-ready-throw-200-pitches-nlds-game-1">gave him the ball for Game 1 of the NLDS</a> against the Phillies. Now Senga will once again start a postseason series for New York. This time facing Ohtani and the star-studded Dodgers.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Mets’ Kodai Senga shuts down Shohei Ohtani question before NLCS

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/dodgers-news-shohei-ohtani-yoshinobu-yamamoto-dinosaur-celebration-vs-padres');   ga('set', 'title', 'Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto went viral for dinosaur celebration vs. Padres');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Shohei-Ohtani-Yoshinobu-Yamamoto-went-viral-for-dinosaur-celebration-vs.-Padres.jpg"></figure><h1>Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto went viral for dinosaur celebration vs. Padres</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-10-12T14:02:38-07:00">October 12th, 2:02pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-10-12T14:03:11-07:00">October 12th, 2:03pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">MLB</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Los Angeles Dodgers fans are exhaling now, but many of them were holding their breath during Game 5 of the National League Division Series. Two of LA’s stars looked completely relaxed as they fought to extend their season, however. Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto had a <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1844914223769677937" rel="noopener">unique and amusing interaction</a> that highlights the fun-loving personality of this team.</p><p>Before the Dodgers earned the right to face the New York Mets for the NL pennant, the Japanese talents broke out a dinosaur handshake, via ClutchPoints. With overwhelming pressure filling the stadium, the club’s dugout appeared to be overflowing with good vibes.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="et">Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto pulled out this HILARIOUS celebration 🦖</p><p>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLB</a>)<br> <a href="https://t.co/fu2O1n1iDd">pic.twitter.com/fu2O1n1iDd</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1844914223769677937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Ohtani really committed to the celebration, while Yamaoto was understandably more reserved given that he was the Game 5 starting pitcher. It is a surreal moment for fans to see LA’s two most high-profile free agency signings palling around while wearing the Dodger Blue. They were brought in to help lift the team over the top in the playoffs, and Yamamoto did just that in the decisive clash.</p><p>The rookie right-hander finally figured out the Padres in 2024, pitching five scoreless innings and allowing just two hits. He handed the game over to the red-hot bullpen, and the relievers put a bow on <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/dodgers-news-freddie-freeman-brutally-honest-after-defeating-padres">the 2-0 victory</a>. Following an up-and-down year ravaged by injury, Yoshinobu Yamamoto rewarded the organization’s belief in him and delivered on the big stage.</p><h2><b>Will it be Shotime in NLCS?</b></h2><p>Shohei Ohtani is still waiting for his signature October moment. Although he set the tone in Game 1 with a three-run home run in the second inning, the runaway NL MVP batted just .200 in the series. He will look to reclaim his September form versus the Mets, starting on Sunday.</p><p>Maybe some good ole’ fashioned tomfoolery with his countryman and the rest of the team will allow Ohtani to get in the right mindset for Game 1 of the NL Championship Series.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024 SEASON STATS
BA	HR	RBI	OPS	SB
.393	2	9	1.214	1

2024 SEASON STATS
BA	HR	RBI	OPS	SB
.393	2	9	1.214	1

Shohei Ohtani

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Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto went viral for dinosaur celebration vs. Padres

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