Postseason baseball is a busy time, with multiple people writing about different aspects of each game. So here are some more insights into the Dodgers’ 8-0 win over the Mets in Game 3 of the NLCS.

Shohei Ohtani, the enjoyed the boos from Citi Field during pregame introductionshit a home run in the eighth inning in his first at-bat with runners on base. That continued his bizarre split this postseason, with no hits in 22 at-bats with the bases empty, but seven hits in nine at-bats. The Dodgers rightly view this as an anomaly and have no plans to change the batting order or anything like that.

From Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post, here’s Mookie Betts on Ohtani:

“I don’t know why people – I have no idea why people talk about Shohei. He is the best player on the field. Every day,” said Betts, who at times in his career has made a credible claim to this award. “There is no need to worry about him. “Oh, he didn’t get a hit without someone on? Who cares? He is Shohei Ohtani.’”

Kiké Hernández didn’t start until Game 4 of the NLDS, but has reached base in each of his five starts since then. He had two hits in three of his five starts, including a home run and a single in Game 3. He is now one of six Dodgers with double-digit home runs in the postseason.

Dave Roberts called Hernández’s home run, which increased their lead from two runs to four, “the biggest hit of the game,” according to Mike DiGiovanna in the Los Angeles Times.

Hernández didn’t start until Miguel Rojas suffered another torn adductor muscle this October, and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic noted “the one-for-all, all-for-one ethos of the 2024 Dodgers” that it was Rojas who did it did help Mookie Betts adjust to shortstop late in spring training when Gavin Lux was moved to second base, then resumed the shortstop role when Betts moved back to right field after returning from the injured list.

In many ways, Walker Buehler’s four scoreless innings were reminiscent of the big-game pitcher of old, before his second Tommy John surgery.

From Jake Mintz at Yahoo Sports:

“I trust no one more than Walker,” longtime Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes told Yahoo Sports after the game. “His ability to be alive in those moments. Many people can’t do that. Since I’ve been here he’s made a lot of big plays for us. And no matter what happens at the start of the season or how he feels, I trust he will go out and compete.”

But his approach in certain situations also showed Bühler’s willingness to adapt. The old Buehler would have leaned on his fastball to Francisco Lindor to avoid the jam in the second inning, but Game 3 was different.

From Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic:

Bühler did not give in to old habits. Roberts, standing from the dugout, suspected a curveball might get Lindor out. Will Smith, behind the plate, thought the same thing.

“Just keep doing what’s been working,” Smith said. Buehler’s curveball had some of his best movement all season.

Bühler didn’t shake. The man who once fired five consecutive two-strike fastballs at Eddie Rosario in a postseason game wasn’t trying to overwhelm the New York superstar with speed. Instead, Buehler threw another two-hitter break ball that broke through the heart of the plate.

“I don’t think anyone over there expected Walker to throw that pitch in that situation, and that’s why Walker did it,” Max Muncy said.