LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani strolled into the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse about three and a half hours before first pitch, displaying the easygoing demeanor of a kid he once was growing up in Japan. He smiled. He joked with teammates. He appeared completely relaxed, just happy to come to the field to play baseball.
Game 6 of the National League Championship Series awaited. Most of the Dodgers already were in uniform. But no worries for Ohtani. The New York Mets’ starter, left-hander Sean Manaea, had struck him out twice and popped him up in Game 2, prompting Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to say, “I haven’t seen him look that bad against anyone.