Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' star player, is absent from the lineup on Thursday, raising further concerns regarding his health as the season progresses. This marks Ohtani's first day off in over a month, a decision made by the coaching staff amid worries about his physical condition.
In Ohtani's absence, the Dodgers have opted to place Tommy Edman in the leadoff position, while Alex Call steps in as the designated hitter. This shift in the lineup comes after Ohtani's performance against the St. Louis Cardinals, where he struck out four times and appeared to struggle with his swing, prompting questions about his readiness to compete.
Manager Dave Roberts addressed the situation following the game, noting that Ohtani's performance was not reflective of his usual capabilities. He stated, "I saw the shaking of the arm. I saw wincing. Clearly the swings aren’t who he is. Obviously, there’s some compensation … Things are compromised. Clearly, tonight, you could see the swing wasn’t the swing that we’re used to seeing. He’s not close to optimal, tonight." This candid assessment highlights the seriousness of Ohtani's condition.
Roberts also mentioned that the Dodgers' training staff would conduct a thorough review of Ohtani's situation on Thursday. When pressed about the possibility of placing Ohtani on the injured list, he expressed caution, indicating that while it is a potential outcome, no immediate decisions have been made.
Throughout his three seasons with the Dodgers, Ohtani has managed to avoid being placed on the injured list, even while recovering from significant elbow surgery in the previous two seasons. However, his current struggles have led to increased scrutiny, especially as the team approaches the postseason.
Concerns about Ohtani's health had already been mounting prior to Wednesday's game, with Roberts previously suggesting that shutting him down as a pitcher for the remainder of the season was a viable option. Ohtani has not taken the mound since July 3, following a lubricant injection in his left knee during the All-Star break. Hopes for a return to pitching were dashed after a disappointing bullpen session last Friday.
While the Dodgers currently have a strong rotation featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow, Ohtani's knee and biceps issues pose a significant challenge for a team that has faced offensive struggles in recent months. Since his last pitching appearance, Ohtani's batting average has dipped to .263, with a .344 on-base percentage and a .526 slugging percentage. Although these numbers are solid for many players, they fall short of the exceptional standards Ohtani has set during his time with the Dodgers.
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