Roundup
Arizona Diamondbacks
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds
Colorado Rockies
Los Angeles Dodgers
Milwaukee Brewers
Pittsburgh Pirates
San Diego Padres
San Francisco Giants
St. Louis Cardinals
Shohei Ohtani worries Dodgers, NL Central and West roundup
No games were played, but big storylines emerged: Ohtani’s slump alarms the Dodgers before NLDS Game 3, and the Giants chart a bullpen-focused reset.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: PickALeagueSummary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
There were no games on the slate yesterday in the NL Central and West, but storylines still drove the day: the Los Angeles Dodgers are openly worried about Shohei Ohtani’s bat in the middle of their Division Series, while the San Francisco Giants are plotting a major course correction after a disastrous year.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Ohtani’s bat under the microscope
The Dodgers, who finished the regular season 100-62, face an unexpected headache in their NLDS matchup against the Atlanta Braves, which is tied 1-1. Shohei Ohtani is in the midst of a rare offensive slump, and his struggles at the plate have become the central concern heading into Game 3. For a club built around his power and versatility, seeing its marquee star stuck in a prolonged funk changes both the lineup’s shape and the approach at the plate.
As the series shifts to Game 3, the entire division is watching to see whether Ohtani can adjust and hit his way out of it. The Dodgers controlled the West in 2026, but their October path could get much tougher if their key hitter doesn’t rediscover his timing.
San Francisco Giants: embracing a bullpen reset
On the other end of the spectrum, the Giants slogged through a 65-97 season and officially fell well short of October. Even so, the organization confirmed that manager Tony Vitello will return. Buster Posey, now running baseball operations, has signaled a clear pivot toward rebuilding the bullpen for 2027, indicating the club intends to reshape its identity around pitching depth and late-inning reliability.
Rather than blowing up the coaching staff after a brutal year, the Giants are opting for a targeted reset. The message is straightforward: for San Francisco to turn the page, it will have to protect leads more effectively and build a relief corps capable of carrying the load next season.
Around the NL Central
In the Central, the Milwaukee Brewers posted the sector’s best record at 103-59, with the Chicago Cubs close behind at 89-73. The Pittsburgh Pirates finished just above .500 at 82-80, while the St. Louis Cardinals closed at 77-85 and the Cincinnati Reds at 75-87.
Around the NL West
Behind the Dodgers in the West, the San Diego Padres turned in a strong 91-71 campaign, followed by the Arizona Diamondbacks at 86-76. At the bottom, the Giants finished 65-97, and the Colorado Rockies endured a particularly rough season at 58-104.