LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers faced the Washington Nationals on Saturday without their star player, Shohei Ohtani, who is sidelined due to discomfort in his left knee and right biceps. This marks the first time since Ohtani joined the Dodgers for the 2024 season on a lucrative 10-year, $700 million contract that he has missed three consecutive games.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts provided some insight into Ohtani's situation, indicating that there has been progress in his recovery. Ohtani was set to engage in pregame hitting drills in the indoor batting cages after sitting out swings on both Thursday and Friday. Although he was absent from the starting lineup, Roberts did not completely rule out the possibility of Ohtani making a pinch-hitting appearance during the game.
The Dodgers are weighing the option of placing Ohtani on the injured list (IL). If they decide to proceed with this move by Sunday, it can be backdated to Thursday, when he was held out of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Given Ohtani's designation as a two-way player, he would face a minimum 15-day stint on the IL, which Roberts acknowledged could be a significant deterrent.
Since his last pitching appearance on July 2, Ohtani has exclusively served as a designated hitter. However, his recent performance has raised concerns; he has struggled at the plate, going just 7 for 51 (.137) with one home run over his last 13 games. His struggles culminated in a season-high four strikeouts against the Cardinals on Wednesday.
Despite these challenges, Roberts expressed optimism about Ohtani's condition, noting a shift in his demeanor over the past couple of days. "I feel that it’s gotten a lot better given his demeanor the last couple days," Roberts stated. He elaborated on how Ohtani's physical discomfort often affects his personality, making him appear more tense. However, Roberts observed that Ohtani has become more relaxed and easygoing recently, which is a positive sign for his recovery.
Ohtani's performance this season has been remarkable, as he continues to build on his success from the previous two years, during which he won the National League MVP Award. This season, he boasts a batting average of .279, with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs across 129 games. On the mound, he has an impressive record of 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts, spanning 85 2/3 innings.
In Ohtani's absence, Tommy Edman has taken over the leadoff spot in the batting order for the third consecutive game. After Alex Call served as the designated hitter in the previous two contests, Teoscar Hernandez filled that role on Saturday. Initially, Dalton Rushing was slated to be the designated hitter but was scratched from the lineup due to elbow discomfort.
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