Shohei Ohtani’s Recent Performance Raises Concerns
So, just to clear things up—no, Shohei Ohtani didn’t injure Dalton Rushing during Friday’s game.
Honestly, I didn’t reprimand him while he was on the mound. Even when the catcher’s pitch call didn’t work out, Ohtani remained utterly composed.
Yet, the Dodgers managed a narrow 4-3 win over the Padres that night, though it wasn’t without its issues.
Ohtani reported feeling tightness in his right biceps during his sixth at-bat, prompting manager Dave Roberts to sub in Miguel Rojas to pinch-hit for him in the following inning.
It’s worth noting that Ohtani was meant to pitch two days prior. Delaying his start likely helped ease some of the physical strain, though probably just a tad.
He appeared visibly drained.
Ohtani mentioned he had a similar issue with his biceps a month or so back but was able to push through then. He added that hitting is what mostly bothers him. Roberts was cautious and described his early exit as a “precautionary” measure, choosing not to take any risks with Ohtani’s health.
This time, Ohtani wasn’t the designated hitter on Saturday, and Roberts indicated he might not pitch in the upcoming All-Star Game.
I think it might be wise for Roberts to consider skipping Ohtani’s last scheduled pitch before the All-Star break.
Roberts expressed he would look into the idea.
“I believe it should be considered,” Roberts remarked.
At this point, managing Ohtani’s workload seems essential for the Dodgers.
Ohtani definitely had ambitions of winning the Cy Young Award, and while the Dodgers have supported him in that quest, it’s becoming increasingly clear he might not pitch enough to remain a viable candidate. As part of a six-man rotation, he’s projected to pitch under 160 innings this year. Achieving a near-perfect record is often key to the award, but he’s strayed quite far from that, allowing 12 earned runs in his previous four starts, even in a game where he didn’t get shelled.
He’s also dealing with a blister on his pitcher’s middle finger and some swelling in his left knee, but on a positive note, the Dodgers have won seven of the eight games he’s pitched recently. This has helped them extend their lead over both the Padres and Diamondbacks, now up by 14 games in the National League West, allowing him to potentially face lineups filled with minor league players and relief pitchers.
The ultimate choice, of course, is up to Ohtani, who expressed his preference to pitch if possible.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Ohtani said in Japanese. “The latter half of the season is vital, but if we can create some distance [in the standings], it could ease things later on.”
That said, Ohtani’s tone suggested he’d accept any decision Roberts might make about his next start.
“I think it’s an option to follow that,” he acknowledged.
As Ohtani approaches his 32nd birthday, he admitted he’s feeling the toll of being a two-way player this season for the first time in three years.
“I don’t feel like I’m giving less than 100%,” he remarked.
Nevertheless, he showed pride in his performance, having played 82 games as a designated hitter and 14 as a pitcher.
Friday’s outing was particularly challenging.
He walked the initial two batters, leading to a hit from Gavin Sheets late in the first inning. Ohtani also allowed a solo home run to Jackson Merrill in the fourth and a scoring double to Xander Bogaerts in the sixth, leaving the Dodgers trailing 3-0.
He did keep them close enough for a comeback, which Teoscar Hernandez completed with a grand slam in the seventh. However, his last four starts have not reflected the sharpness of just a month ago when his ERA was under 1.
“Shohei hasn’t been at his best lately, that’s the reality,” Roberts acknowledged.
Ohtani stated that one of his immediate goals is to regain his health, return from the All-Star break, and enter the postseason ready to perform at his best.
The Dodgers have the opportunity to assist him with this, even if he might resist initially.
They’re in a position to take necessary actions.
And it really should happen soon.
