I think Kasich figures he can't lose in Ohio, assuming he figures the fix is in since he runs the party and the govt in Ohio. So he's running as the anti-Trump. Every popular position Trump has, he is taking the opposite side in the past week. NAFTA, amnesty, go to war with Russia, whatever he can think of. Then assuming he does win Ohio he says "this proves that real world solutions are what people want" and the GOPe can then rally around him as the REAL candidate.
He needs to lose, bottom line.
You might be right. The establishment positions have been crushed but they are telling Kasich what to say to try to resurrect these rejected positions.
He has turned into the POD people in the movie “invasion of the body snatchers.”