Despite a dominant postseason run, the Los Angeles Dodgers face a looming crisis as Shohei Ohtani’s historic slump threatens to derail their attempt to win another World Series.

During last year’s National League Championship Series, which Los Angeles swept, Ohtani dominated the Milwaukee Brewers and earned Most Valuable Player honors.

Ohtani hit .357 with three home runs, four RBIs and a remarkable 1.643 OPS in 14 at-bats over four games.

He also delivered on the mound in Game 4, allowing no runs on two hits with 10 strikeouts and three walks in six innings. His impact as both a hitter and pitcher made him a decisive factor against Milwaukee.

This time, Ohtani has become one of the Dodgers’ biggest weaknesses in the National League Championship Series against the Brewers.

Los Angeles has a much different version of its superstar during this postseason.

Ohtani will not contribute on the mound after saying he intends to focus exclusively on hitting following problems with his right biceps and left knee. Those injuries are also preventing him from being fully healthy at the plate during the postseason.

He is clearly not at 100 percent, and the Dodgers are making a mistake by risking further physical problems.

Ohtani is hitting .188 with three walks, two runs scored and five strikeouts in five postseason games.

He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts during Monday’s 7-4 loss in Game 2 of the NLCS. Ohtani is now 13-for-85 (.153) with one home run and three RBIs in his last 22 games.

Ohtani’s determination to remain in the lineup is understandable. He is accustomed to carrying enormous responsibility and competing through discomfort, and his presence alone forces opposing pitchers to prepare carefully.

His ability to transform a game with one swing also makes removing him from the lineup an extremely difficult decision. Even during an extended slump, the Brewers cannot approach him as if he were an ordinary hitter.

However, resilience can become counterproductive when injuries prevent a player from performing his normal movements.

Ohtani’s value comes from his balance, bat speed, strike-zone judgment and ability to drive pitches throughout the field. If his knee or biceps compromises any part of that process, repeatedly sending him to the plate may only reinforce poor habits.

The Dodgers must determine whether his current presence helps the lineup more than additional recovery time would. Their depth gives them alternatives, even if none can replicate a healthy Ohtani.

Protecting him would not reflect a lack of confidence. It would recognize that his long-term health and ability to contribute later in the series matter more than forcing him through another ineffective game.

Ohtani remains capable of changing the series, but Los Angeles must first ensure that continuing to play him does not make the situation worse.