yahoo
The Los Angeles Dodgers return to playoff action on Wednesday night, but uncertainty looms over whether Shohei Ohtani will take the field. Ohtani has been dealing with reported injuries, including left knee and right biceps discomfort, according to sources.
With the Dodgers facing a 0-2 deficit against the Milwaukee Brewers in the series, they likely cannot afford to sideline one of their key players for Game 3. The team has dropped the first two games by scores of 2-1 and 7-4.
On ESPN's First Take, analysts Jessica Mendoza and Stephen A. Smith debated whether Ohtani should be benched. Smith was unequivocal in his stance, emphasizing that Ohtani must contribute in some capacity.
Key Analysis
Smith pointed to Ohtani's record-breaking $700 million contract as a primary reason for his insistence. He stated, "Listen, I agree with you totally. I just have a cardinal rule. I ain't benching nobody I'm paying $700 million to. $700 million. Oh you gonna play, you gonna go out there, I don't give a d* if you embarrass yourself. You gonna find a way to do something if you get paid $700 million. That's where I'm at with it Jessica."
While a loss on Wednesday would not eliminate the Dodgers, it would give the Brewers a commanding 3-0 lead in the seven-game series, needing just one more win to advance.
Originally reported by yahoo.