Shohei Ohtani will be in the Dodgers lineup for NLCS Game 3 against the Brewers

Shohei Ohtani is playing.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Ohtani will be in the lineup for Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles trails the best-of-seven series 0-2.

Health check cleared the way

Roberts said he had a strong conversation with Ohtani and that the four-time MVP feels good enough to play. The Dodgers had weighed whether lingering left-knee and right-biceps issues meant he should sit. Roberts said Ohtani is excited and will be written in.

Ohtani is expected to bat somewhere from second to sixth. Recent lineups have had him hitting cleanup as a designated hitter after he opened the NL Division Series higher in the order.

The slump that sparked the debate

Ohtani is hitting .150 this postseason with three hits in 20 at-bats. He has struck out seven times and walked three times with no home runs and no RBIs. He has not homered since Aug. 18.

Over a stretch that included a September injured-list trip he has hit .197 with a .629 OPS across his last 35 games counting the regular season and playoffs.

Mookie Betts said it is hard to watch the struggles and that the Dodgers need him. Max Muncy said the clubhouse is still behind Ohtani and expects a big hit to turn things around.

Left-handers on the mound

Blake Snell is lined up to start for Los Angeles against Milwaukee left-hander Robert Gasser. First pitch is set for evening local time with the Dodgers trying to avoid falling into an 0-3 hole.