On March 26, Dave Roberts embarked on his 11th season as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

With expectations higher than ever coming off back-to-back World Series titles, no one was more prepared than Doc. But that would be put to the test following a 7-4 loss on Monday to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. 

Down 2-0, Roberts faced his toughest managerial decision: the possibility of benching Shohei Ohtani in a pivotal Game 3. 

After much deliberation, it goes the way of Ohtani as he will be in the starting lineup for Game 3 of the NLCS, Roberts told reporters on Tuesday, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. 

He will hit between two or sixth in the batting order. 

There's no doubt that Ohtani has yet to recover from his ailing left knee or right bicep issues that plagued him during the last few months of the regular season. All that culmination forced the hand of the Dodgers to place him on the Injured List and, in return, call up Josue De Paula — who's brought to the 100-win ballclub in his short arrival. 

Still, Ohtani himself was very "adamant" that he was healthy enough to contribute to the team and was not pinning any blame on his injuries as the reason he couldn't get it going at the plate, per Ardaya, thus persuading Roberts in his decision. 

"In this big moment, we’re listening to Shohei. And we’re supporting the crap out of him and believe in him," Roberts said. 

Despite a slashline of .150/.261/.150 and an OPS of .411 in six postseason games thus far, the Dodgers will continue to roll with the four-time MVP. 

Ohtani himself feels that his swing is in a good spot and believes that he is close to breaking out of his egregious slump. But he'll have to figure it out with the Brewers' starting rotation turning to southpaw Roberts Gasser in Game 3. 

"The symptoms have subdued a lot. Especially when I was on the IL, spending that time to be able to reduce the symptoms," Ohtani said about where his swing is and how he's managed that buildup with his injuries. 

Following Monday's loss, Katie Woo and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that Roberts was putting all cards on the table when it came to how the Game 3 lineup would look. 

That included the chance of benching Ohtani and having him replaced in the designated hitter spot with De Paula. 

De Paula will remain a steady bat off the bench as Ohtani continues battling through a rough stretch with the Dodgers' season and three-peat hopes hanging in the balance.