LOS ANGELES — It started with a bang – two of them – but Shohei Ohtani’s postseason has turned into an extended whimper.

Ohtani hit two home runs in the Dodgers’ first postseason game, a Wild Card Series victory over the Cincinnati Reds. But he has gone 2 for 22 since then, including 1 for 18 with nine strikeouts in the four-game National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

“We’re not going to win the World Series with that sort of performance,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday. “So we’re counting on a recalibration, getting back into the strike zone, and understanding when he faces left-handed pitching what they’re gonna try to do – crowd him in, off (the plate), spin him away. He’s just gotta be better at managing the hitting zone.

“I’m counting on it.

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