Dodgers Grapple with Shohei Ohtani’s Health and Lineup Decisions

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts communicated with Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday night, informing him about his absence from the lineup for the series finale against the Cardinals. Ohtani responded with a salute emoji, acknowledging the decision.

Roberts explained, “At the end of the day, he wants to be in there, but I’m not going to just put him in there because of the name on the back of his jersey.” Balancing Ohtani’s desire to play against his lingering pains in the right biceps and left knee remains challenging.

While Roberts deemed an injured list stint “unlikely,” Ohtani’s health raises questions about the team’s plans. Without clarity on Ohtani’s pitching prospects for this season, planning the Dodgers’ rotation poses difficulties. Additionally, the offense waits for Ohtani’s slump—two hits in his last six games following a .241 batting average in August—to end.

Roberts stated, “Great players always feel their percentage is better than others and want to be available. There’s a kind of trusting the player versus taking it out of their hands.” Comparing the situation to experiences with Clayton Kershaw, Roberts aims to assess potential harm to both Ohtani and the team.

Ohtani hasn’t spoken to reporters in over two weeks, declining interview requests. His left knee troubles have been the primary hurdle for pitching, following a pause in his throwing program after receiving an injection. Now, his right biceps has become problematic.

Roberts shared that Ohtani reported discomfort from his biceps to neck, leading to frequent arm shaking. This issue has recurred multiple times this season.

The general manager, Brandon Gomes, described the biceps issue as an “ebb-and-flow” problem. Recovery in August and September is difficult, necessitating careful management of Ohtani’s workload as a unique case.

Ohtani’s injuries have lingered for months, yet he hasn’t missed consecutive games or landed on the IL. Gomes mentioned, “Not having Shohei in the lineup for 10 days isn’t preferred and hasn’t been discussed.” He refrained from linking Ohtani’s batting struggles to his physical condition.

Gomes highlighted the natural ebbs and flows of the season, stating that attributing Ohtani’s struggles at the plate to physical ailments is challenging. He added, “We haven’t had any indication he’s not feeling good enough to play.” Ohtani’s exceptional performance raises expectations, leading to heightened scrutiny during slumps.

If the Dodgers refrain from placing Ohtani on the IL, consecutive days off could be beneficial. Roberts will decide on this Friday, following discussions with Ohtani and the training staff. The team also delays deciding whether Ohtani should pitch again this season, factoring this latest health development into their considerations.

Gomes concluded, “We must evaluate how he continues to feel. If the upside outweighs the downside, we might shut it down. We’re not going to compromise his offensive performance.” Ohtani resumed catch play on Aug. 8, posting a .704 OPS in 23 games—his worst offensive month.

The acquisition of left-hander Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline eased pitching pressure on Ohtani. “Grateful a deal was worked out,” Roberts said, recognizing the impact on the pitching rotation.