The Los Angeles Dodgers have relied on their established stars throughout their postseason run, but continued offensive struggles could create opportunities for a young prospect to make a bigger impact.

Josue De Paula has not received many chances to contribute during the 2026 playoffs.

However, the Dodgers top prospect has shown an ability to reach base in critical situations, potentially giving manager Dave Roberts another option as the Dodgers attempt to generate more consistent offense.

Through three postseason appearances, De Paula has recorded just one official at-bat while drawing two walks as a pinch hitter. Although his .000 batting average reflects his limited opportunities, his .667 on-base percentage highlights his ability to work counts and reach base without a hit.

With Los Angeles searching for offensive production, the 21-year-old could become a more prominent option in specific situations as the postseason progresses.

De Paula's postseason experience has been limited to late-game appearances, but he has already demonstrated patience at the plate.

His first opportunity came in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves, when he popped out to third base as a pinch hitter to end a 2-1 Dodgers loss.

He responded in Game 4, drawing a pinch-hit walk that helped extend a rally during Los Angeles' eventual series-clinching victory. De Paula continued that approach in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, working a five-pitch walk in the ninth inning to keep the Dodgers' comeback hopes alive.

Los Angeles ultimately fell short in the 2-1 defeat, but De Paula's plate discipline provided a small positive in an otherwise frustrating offensive performance.

De Paula's ability to avoid chasing pitches could prove valuable in high-pressure situations, particularly when the Dodgers need baserunners against opposing bullpens. His minor league production against right-handed pitching also provides a potential reason for Roberts to consider deploying him in favorable matchups.

One of the biggest concerns for Los Angeles entering the NLCS has been Shohei Ohtani's recent performance at the plate. The superstar has struggled to produce consistently during the postseason while also dealing with physical issues.

Ohtani remains central to the Dodgers' lineup, and there is little reason to expect the organization to abandon its reliance on one of baseball's premier players because of a difficult stretch. Still, his struggles place greater importance on finding contributions from the rest of the roster.

That is where De Paula could become relevant.

Rather than immediately replacing an established starter, the Dodgers could give the rookie additional opportunities as a late-inning pinch hitter, especially when they need a baserunner against a difficult reliever. If the offensive issues persist, Roberts could also explore different lineup combinations to spark production.

Any expanded role would depend on the situation, available matchups and the team's confidence in the young hitter. De Paula's limited major-league experience also makes it difficult to determine how he would handle a substantially larger workload.

Nevertheless, his early postseason plate appearances have given the Dodgers a reason to keep him in consideration.