Shohei Ohtani struck out four times Wednesday night, and what Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said afterward was more alarming than the box score.
The Dodgers lost 8-6 in 10 innings to the St. Louis Cardinals. During a late-inning at-bat, Ohtani looked stiff and late trying to catch up to an elevated fastball. Roberts did not downplay what he saw. According to a report by the Associated Press, Roberts spoke directly after the game about his concerns.
"I saw the same thing that everyone saw," Roberts said. "You could see the swing wasn't the swing that we're used to seeing. He's not close to optimal."
Roberts said he planned to talk to Ohtani and the team's training staff about giving the 32-year-old a day off. A trip to the injured list was not something Roberts considered necessary yet, but he did not rule out future action if Ohtani's struggles continue.
Ohtani has been playing through a knee injury that required an injection at the All-Star break. Despite that, he has not missed many days in the second half, opting to stay in the lineup. Roberts acknowledged that determination but suggested it may no longer be helping the team.
"I know he feels that he needs to post and be in the lineup and if he's upright he should play," Roberts said. "I respect that, but if he's feeling the way that he visibly looks, then it's really not helping anyone."
On the season as a whole, Ohtani's numbers remain solid. He carries a .279/.381/.525 slash line. His slugging percentage is down compared to recent seasons, but those numbers would still represent a strong year for most hitters. The concern is what has happened since the All-Star break. In 41 games over the second half, Ohtani is hitting .250/.333/.476, a clear drop from his earlier production.
Earlier on Wednesday, Roberts had already told reporters that Ohtani was unlikely to return to the mound this season, a separate blow to a team that had hoped to use him as a two-way player deep into the fall. Yahoo Sports reported the comments came just hours before the loss to St. Louis made the situation look even more serious.
The Dodgers also placed starting pitcher Eric Lauer on the injured list with elbow inflammation following a tough outing against the Cardinals, adding to the team's injury concerns heading into September.
With the playoffs approaching, the Dodgers face a decision about how much to lean on Ohtani in the regular season's final weeks. The team has enough star power to absorb some reduced production, but losing Ohtani's bat at full strength during October would carry far greater consequences than resting him now.
No timetable has been set for any change to his role. Roberts indicated the next step would come after conversations with Ohtani and the training staff.
