LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts saw a physically compromised Shohei Ohtani at the plate Wednesday night when the four-time MVP was 0 for 4 with four strikeouts.
He plans to have a conversation with the training staff and Ohtani on Thursday to “really try to figure out where he's at physically” and weigh giving him a day off, although Roberts said he doesn't think a stint on the injured list is necessary.
“I saw the same thing
that everyone saw,” Roberts said after an 8-6 loss in 10 innings to the St. Louis Cardinals. “You could see the swing wasn’t the swing that we’re used to seeing. He's not close to optimal.”
The two-way superstar hasn't pitched in a game since July 3 because of lingering pain in his left knee and right biceps, which may be affecting his offense. He is hitting .279 after striking out four consecutive times for the first time this season.
“I know he feels that he needs to post and be in the lineup and if he's upright he should play,” Roberts said. “I respect that, but if he’s feeling the way that he visibly looks, then it's really not helping anyone.”
Earlier Wednesday, Roberts had said he had no indication that Ohtani was physically ailing.
After the game, the manager said, “I’ve seen it over the last couple weeks where he hasn’t been who he is.”
Ohtani hasn't spoken to the media in two weeks.
“I still feel there’s enough days on the calendar of the season that we have plenty of time to make whatever decision we make and to have him come out of it in a better spot,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers remain uncertain whether Ohtani will pitch again this season.
He threw a 20-pitch bullpen session last Friday but was scratched from a potential start at Detroit two days later. Roberts said that until he sees Ohtani throw another bullpen he won't know the next step in his pitching progression.
Asked if it's possible Ohtani won't pitch again this season, Roberts said, “It's an option.”
Before being shut down, Ohtani was 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts.
If Ohtani can't start on the mound, would he be a candidate to play at an outfield corner?
“Not on the table right now,” Roberts said.
Ohtani hasn't played the outfield in the major leagues since 2021, when he appeared there in seven games for the Los Angeles Angels.
If Ohtani isn't physically capable of starting a game, it's possible he could enter as a reliever.
If he starts as the designated hitter and then moves to the mound, the so-called Ohtani Rule would kick in and the Dodgers would lose their DH for the rest of the game. But if he moves from the mound to the outfield, he could remain in the lineup.
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