Shohei Ohtani stated he could be far from peak fitness for the playoffs, mentioning recurrent injuries. He expressed feeling his strongest during the NLDS, hoping to regain his power. The Dodgers announced Ohtani will bat second in Game 1, with young star De Paula and pitcher Henriquez also being part of the NLDS lineup. Ohtani's injuries continue to be unexplained, adding complexity to the Dodgers' NLDS approach.