The Dodgers clearly seemed to miss Shohei Ohtani’s bat during their game on Tuesday night.
In a tight 2-1 loss to the Miami Marlins, Ohtani pitched effectively, giving up two runs in six innings and striking out nine. This performance brought his ERA down to an impressive 0.60 over five starts this year.
However, for the second time this season, the Dodgers decided to take Ohtani out of the batting order while he pitched. This decision is part of their strategy to manage his workload throughout the season.
They believe that in the long term, this will help keep Ohtani fresh and effective.
But on this particular night, it led to a tough offensive showing from the rest of the team.
Although the Dodgers had an opportunity in the first inning—after the Marlins’ defense faltered with a bases-loaded situation—they struggled to capitalize afterward.
Marlins starter Janson Junk kept the Dodgers off-balance, inducing weak contact and achieving quick outs. His solid performance continued even into the sixth inning. While the Marlins bullpen was shaky at times, they managed to contain the Dodgers, allowing just one run in the eighth inning and stranding a runner on third, which was a setback.
With a small glimpse of hope, Andy Pages managed an infield hit in the ninth inning, but it wasn’t enough.
Dalton Rushing stepped in as the designated hitter to cover for Ohtani and led off the order but ended up going 0-for-4, striking out once due to a pitch clock violation—he seemed to be trying to call time, but the home plate umpire didn’t notice.
The overall performance was lackluster, with the Dodgers collecting just seven hits and leaving eight runners on base.
This kind of game might make the Dodgers reconsider the wisdom of resting Ohtani in future outings.
After a recent slump, he has emerged as one of the few standout players on a Dodgers team that’s been slowly finding its rhythm again. With three hits in consecutive games and a decent average in ten of his last 14 at-bats, he’s been a bright spot.
This focus on limiting Ohtani’s at-bats is primarily out of concern for his overall workload.
Yet, every time the Dodgers struggle at the plate in his absence, it’s clear his role is greatly missed—especially on nights like Tuesday.
In terms of pitching, Ohtani wasn’t at his sharpest against the Marlins. He allowed five hits and three walks while pitching a season-high 104 pitches, although he managed to avert serious damage by utilizing his velocity effectively.
His first run against him came in the second inning, thanks to hitting Agustín Ramirez with a pitch. Later, a defensive mistake required him to make a throw to second base. Another run came in the fifth when Kyle Stowers delivered an RBI hit. This marked Ohtani’s second unearned run against him this season.
Despite the pressure, Ohtani managed to navigate a sticky situation with the bases loaded, yet the Dodgers failed to support him offensively.
Turning to the other side, after a strong start this season, Pages has seen a decline. While his ninth-inning single helped avoid a total shutout, his overall performance has dropped. In his last 11 games, he has only seven hits from 40 at-bats, causing his batting average to slip from an impressive .412 to .324.
So, despite a promising first month, it sadly didn’t wrap up on a positive note.
Next up, the Dodgers and Marlins will finish their series on Wednesday afternoon. Tyler Glasnow (3-0, 2.45 ERA) and former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara (3-2, 3.05 ERA) are set for a much-anticipated pitching duel. Ohtani is expected to return to the lineup as a designated hitter for the upcoming games.
