Ohtani’s NLCS MVP versus Judge’s regular season power

The disparity in postseason production

Shohei Ohtani hit three home runs and struck out 10 in Game 4 last Friday to earn the NLCS MVP, yet his postseason OPS sits at a mediocre .631 compared to his career average of .948. He missed over two weeks of action before the playoffs due to left knee and right biceps injuries. The Dodgers, who finished the regular season with 100 wins and 62 losses, swept Milwaukee to reach the World Series. I find it hard to believe his production justifies the hype when he struggled for much of the postseason. In 34 combined playoff games across the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Ohtani had 11 home runs and 24 RBI with a .248/.390/.550 slash line. Aaron Judge produces different results for the New York Yankees. Judge has 18 home runs and 41 runs batted in through 237 at-bats this season. He maintains a .871 OPS and 43 walks despite a .241 batting average. The Yankees hold a 93-68 record and sit 4.5 games behind the Rays in the AL East. You know the drill with postseason momentum. Judge still needs to rewrite his postseason narrative to help the Yankees win their first World Series since 2009. He has 45 runs, 57 hits, and 283 total bases to his name, alongside 85 strikeouts. The Yankees expect pitching from Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, and Carlos Rodon to carry them.

Rest advantages and scheduling shifts

The Dodgers had six days to rest and work out after they swept the Brewers. Because they swept Milwaukee, they enjoyed nine wins in 10 playoff games. The new MLB format moved the Wild Card Series to Tuesday through Thursday to avoid competition with football. This shift changed how teams manage their momentum and physical readiness. I see the Dodgers utilizing this downtime to prepare for a second straight World Series title. While Dodgers players like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman focus on their rest, the Yankees must navigate a much tighter schedule following their high-intensity series against the Red Sox during this long and intense October stretch. The Dodgers had byes in the postseason for the previous three years, two of which ended in Division Series losses to San Diego and Arizona. This season, they won their Wild Card Series against Cincinnati. NBC took control of the Wild Card Series and Sunday Night Baseball rights in November 2025. Most games aim for an 8 p.m. ET start to maximize the prime-time window, though some games use a 5 p.m. ET slot on Peacock.

The verdict on the October surge

I declare Ohtani’s NLCS MVP performance more significant. His ability to deliver three home runs in a single game despite his left knee and right biceps injuries carries more weight than Judge’s regular season totals. Judge remains a force with 57 hits and 283 total bases, but Ohtani’s postseason slump of .631 makes his Game 4 performance even more extreme. This slump stands in stark contrast to his 2025 World Series performance where he posted a .778 slugging percentage and three home runs. The Dodgers seek their second straight title, while the Yankees hunt for a championship. Which team will use their rest better? The Dodgers roster includes Freddie Freeman, a master at delivering big moments in October. I suspect the Dodgers will stay sharper than the Yankees because of that six-day gap. The Dodgers even face concerns regarding Ohtani being clearly compromised and nowhere near his peak powers. Judge needs to return to his peak to help the Yankees win the ALCS.