NEW YORK — On Tuesday, Shohei Ohtani maintained his calm, occasionally smiling and even laughing, while determined not to show any signs of stress.

If he’s feeling the weight of leading the Los Angeles Dodgers toward the World Series, he’s not letting it show in public.

The Dodgers have been doing well without a significant contribution from him, making it to the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets. However, if they wish to win the championship, they will eventually need him to step up.

The Dodgers have plenty of talent, yet it’s difficult to envision a celebratory parade in downtown Los Angeles if Ohtani’s struggles continue. He’s only 6-for-27 this postseason and hasn’t hit a home run in his last six games.

The longer he remains in this slump, the more scrutiny Ohtani will encounter. Every at-bat, every swing, and every strikeout during the playoffs is magnified for everyone to witness.

“It’s still the same game,’’ noted Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor, “but there’s heightened pressure. Every pitch is more critical. Each swing carries more weight. Every at-bat might determine if you get to play again tomorrow or not.

“There’s a lot on the line.’’

Ohtani has been under the spotlight since he became a young sensation in Japan, rising as a two-way player in the Japanese league before becoming a global phenomenon after moving to the U.S. in 2018.

His comparisons have gone beyond peers like Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, and Ronald Acuña Jr. to be likened to Babe Ruth, arguably the greatest player in baseball history who excelled both as a hitter and a pitcher early in his career.

After signing a historic $700 million deal with the Dodgers, Ohtani’s reputation soared. Despite recovering from Tommy John surgery and being unable to pitch, he captivated fans by becoming the first player ever to hit more than 50 home runs (54) and steal over 50 bases (59) in a single season.

Fans were thrilled to see how he would perform in the playoffs, and when Ohtani hit a homer in his first postseason game against the San Diego Padres, it seemed like a new October star had emerged.

However, that version of Ohtani seems to have vanished.

He’s gone 0-for-19 with no runners on base this postseason and has an overall batting average of .222. He hasn’t stolen a base either.

“This is my first postseason experience,’’ Ohtani acknowledged, “so I can’t really draw from past experiences. What I do know is that we’re up against strong teams with their best pitchers, making it tougher to get base hits and achieve results.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has faced many questions about Ohtani’s difficulties but insists there’s no thought of moving him down in the batting order, feeling that one great swing could change everything.

“There are times he needs to reset,’’ Roberts noted. “Certain pitchers can trigger old bad habits. You need to identify that to reset.

“I believe he’s aware of that, and I expect that he’ll make adjustments today.”

Ohtani, who is 4-for-20 with no extra-base hits and has struck out 12 times since hitting a three-run homer and single in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Padres, claims his hitting approach has not changed. He doesn’t feel like his swing is off. However, he appeared lost in Game 5 of the NLDS against Yu Darvish, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Left-hander Sean Manaea struck him out twice and held him hitless in three at-bats on Monday.

Even Roberts was surprised by how often Ohtani chased pitches outside the strike zone, particularly against Darvish, wondering if it was a mental challenge since Darvish was Ohtani’s idol as a child.

“I feel alright at the plate,” Ohtani said. “I think I need to recall times when I felt good and bring that into my approach. … Regardless of how I am being pitched, my plan is to stick to my routine as much as possible and not focus too much on how they are coming after me.”

It’s worth noting that Ohtani isn’t the first prominent player to face challenges in his postseason debut.

The spotlight shines brighter on star players, and opposing teams often tailor their pitching strategies to target them. They spend extensive time focusing on neutralizing standout players, making it easier for lesser-known athletes in the lineup to shine.

“You can see teams put a lot of emphasis on Shohei,’’ said Dodgers center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, “just like we do focusing on other teams’ notable players. The pitchers always emphasize, ‘You can’t allow this player to beat you.’ The scouting reports are very detailed, and teams meet late at night to strategize on how to get him out. It’s certainly challenging when the opposition is so focused on specific players.”

Dodgers reliever Daniel Hudson, a seasoned veteran in his seventh postseason series, understands the pressure. He participates in all the pitchers’ meetings and goes over the scouting reports thoroughly.

The focus often lies on the top stars. If you can neutralize them, you might have a shot against the others.

“There are definitely players you don’t want to allow to beat you,’’ Hudson remarked. “I’m not suggesting you walk them, but you definitely pitch to them more cautiously. …

“In these types of games, each team has key players that you absolutely must prevent from beating you.’’

Just look at the statistics.

Barry Bonds, known as the home-run king and a seven-time MVP, struggled with a .196 batting average in his first five postseason appearances, hitting only one home run and collecting six RBIs in 116 plate appearances.

Meanwhile, Alex Rodriguez, who is a three-time MVP and 14-time All-Star, achieved a .230 batting average with six home runs over 178 at-bats in his first seven playoff appearances.

In New York, Aaron Judge, now a two-time MVP, currently has a batting average of just .204 over 49 postseason games.

“Teams might be a bit more cautious when pitching to certain players,’’ Mets manager Carlos Mendoza mentioned. “However, they remain elite athletes. They can turn things around with just one swing. … There will be periods where they struggle, but also times when they come through big.”

“Whether it’s Aaron Judge, Barry Bonds, or Ohtani, these players are superstars for a reason.’’

However, being a star comes with a lot of pressure, too.

When they don’t perform well at such crucial moments, it can feel as if they’re disappointing the whole franchise.

“I believe those players hold certain expectations from others and themselves,’’ Roberts explained. “You need to be ready to stay solid … aware that opposing pitchers will do their best to stop you. Patience is key.”

“From my experience with Barry, he truly excelled during the 2002 World Series and was phenomenal in that series. Once Alex discovered his rhythm, he also performed remarkably in the playoffs.

“But I do think there’s also a significant amount of pressure they place on themselves initially. The audience expects them to replicate their career performances and statistics rather than just perform adequately.”

We’ll soon discover if Ohtani’s current struggles are just a minor setback in an otherwise historic season or a sign of something more concerning, particularly if he’s feeling the weight of high expectations come October.

“Many people have been watching him closely,’’ Lindor stated, “and his capability to stay true to himself, avoid being overwhelmed, and maintain focus is commendable. He has managed this situation remarkably well.”

Regardless of any slump, the Mets remain cautious, understanding that a single swing could change everything.

“He is still Shohei Ohtani,’’ Mendoza affirmed. “He ranks among the top hitters in the league. He’s exceptional.”

“He’s a threat.”