LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way superstar, was given a day off on Thursday after struggling with physical discomfort during a recent game. Ohtani's absence follows a performance on Wednesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals, where he struck out four times in the Dodgers' 10-inning, 8-6 loss.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts reached out to Ohtani via text after the game to inform him that he would not be in the starting lineup for the series finale against the Cardinals. Ohtani acknowledged the decision with an emoji salute, indicating his understanding of the situation.
Roberts commented on Ohtani's condition, stating that the player had reported issues with his right biceps and neck. The manager noted, "That’s why I think you saw some grimacing and some kind of shaking of the arm, just trying to get it to fire, and he couldn’t do that." This ongoing discomfort has raised questions about Ohtani's availability moving forward, as his symptoms have not improved in recent weeks.
While a stint on the injured list is not currently deemed likely, Roberts did not rule it out entirely, saying, "Unlikely, but not impossible." The manager planned to consult with Ohtani and the training staff later on Thursday to assess his condition and determine his participation in the upcoming series against the Washington Nationals.
Ohtani's desire to play remains strong, but Roberts emphasized the importance of prioritizing health over star power, stating, "I’m not going to just put him in there because of the name on the back of his jersey." For now, Ohtani's status is considered day-to-day.
In Ohtani's absence, center fielder Tommy Edman stepped into the leadoff position, while Alex Call took over as the designated hitter, batting eighth. Ohtani's struggles at the plate have been notable, as he has not pitched since July 3 due to persistent pain in his left knee and right biceps. His batting average currently stands at .279, and he recently experienced his first instance of striking out four times in a game this season.
Before being sidelined, Ohtani had an impressive pitching record of 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA over 14 starts. He had thrown a 20-pitch bullpen session last Friday but was later scratched from a scheduled start against the Detroit Tigers. Roberts indicated that further steps in Ohtani's pitching progression would depend on his ability to throw another bullpen session.
As the Dodgers aim for a third consecutive World Series championship, the team is keen on ensuring Ohtani returns to full health. Roberts expressed confidence in navigating the next few weeks, stating, "It’s up to us to kind of figure out how we navigate these next three-and-a-half, four weeks, but I’m very confident that we’ll see the guy we all expect to see."
Leave a Comment