Dodgers manager Dave Roberts observed Shohei Ohtani was "not close to optimal" during Wednesday night's game, where the four-time MVP went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts. The Dodgers fell to the St. Louis Cardinals 8-6 in 10 innings.
Roberts will discuss Ohtani's condition with the pitcher and training staff on Thursday to determine if a day off is necessary. Roberts said he does not believe a stint on the injured list is required at this time.
Roberts described Ohtani's swing as unlike his typical form. "I saw the same thing that everyone saw," Roberts said. The manager expressed concern that Ohtani is not performing at his best physical capacity.
Ohtani has not pitched in a game since July 3. Persistent pain in his left knee and right biceps has kept him from the mound and may be affecting his offense. His batting average stands at.279. Wednesday marked the first time this season Ohtani struck out four consecutive times.
Roberts acknowledged Ohtani's strong desire to play, stating, "I know he feels that he needs to post and be in the lineup and if he's upright, he should play." But the manager emphasized the potential drawback. "If he's feeling the way that he visibly looks, then it's really not helping anyone," Roberts said.
Before Wednesday's game, Roberts said he had "no indication" that Ohtani was experiencing physical problems. After the loss, Roberts admitted he had observed Ohtani struggling "over the last couple weeks." Ohtani has not made himself available to media for the past two weeks.
The Dodgers remain uncertain whether Ohtani will pitch again this season. Roberts expressed optimism that time remains for him to recover. Ohtani threw a 20-pitch bullpen session on Friday but was scratched from a potential start in Detroit two days later. Roberts said until Ohtani completes another bullpen session, the next steps in his pitching progression remain unclear.
When asked if it is possible Ohtani will not pitch again this season, Roberts confirmed, "It's an option." Before being shut down from pitching, Ohtani had a record of 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA across 14 starts.
Roberts definitively ruled out moving Ohtani to an outfield corner. Ohtani has not played outfield in Major League Baseball since 2021, when he appeared in seven games for the Los Angeles Angels.
The team is considering scenarios if Ohtani cannot start games. If he is capable, he could enter games as a reliever. If Ohtani starts as the designated hitter and then takes the mound, the "Ohtani Rule" would activate, meaning the Dodgers would lose their DH for the remainder of the game. If he transitions from the mound to the outfield, he could stay in the lineup.
