The Los Angeles Dodgers will not be getting Shohei Ohtani back on the mound on Sunday, according to manager Dave Roberts.
Ohtani had looked close to returning, and August 29th seemed to be the target, but after his latest bullpen session, things are being pushed back.
“I think that, just in total, Shohei hasn’t come out of it well: the arm, the knee. And so if any pitcher was feeling like this, we wouldn’t run him out there,” Roberts said.
The Japanese star has been very careful during his return from his elongated pitching break, easing his workload up bit by bit.
Once he started throwing bullpen sessions and then live batting practice, with Ohtani coming out of them well, there was a good amount of optimism building around him coming back to the mound.
Despite Ohtani not making a start on Sunday, Roberts was hesitant to call it a setback.
“I don’t even know if it’s a setback in the sense that it hasn’t been 100%, and so you’re hoping that each day it gets a little bit better and closer,” Roberts said.
“And once we have to make a decision, which would be tomorrow, it just is not there.”
Will the Dodgers rest Shohei Ohtani?
With Roberts admitting Ohtani is dealing with some discomfort, reporters asked whether he can continue hitting every day or if rest is in order.
“I think that if I heard at all that that was affecting his swing, his bicep or knee was bothering him, I would absolutely be open to giving him a day off,” Roberts said.
“But I haven’t heard otherwise. I know that the last couple weeks haven’t been great with the bat, but he hasn’t expressed that, nor have the trainers.”
The offense cannot afford to have Ohtani out of the lineup at this point, even if he is struggling. He offers a legitimate threat no matter how bad things look on paper.
Pitching-wise, the Dodgers have more than enough depth on the cards to continue holding him out.
3 Responses
We are now officially tied with ATL and they own the tiebreaker. #3 seed. And Ohtani needs to sit completely. He’s doing absolutely nothing with the bat either. In his last 5 games, he’s 3 -21, with 2 runs, 3 hits (1 single, a double, and a triple), no RBIs, no HRs, 2 walks, hit into a double play, and 7 snappy strikeouts. in three of those games, he’s oh-for. This isn’t a stat line for a DH, once one of the most feared hitters in baseball. Maybe sitting him will allow him to completely heal quicker?
I think Ohtani and the rest of the team look the same…terrible, both on offense and defense. The lineup is garbage and that’s on Roberts. Left and right field should sit down for a few games. Get Ohtani out of lead off. At this point hit him second or fifth. Betts has to play, unfortunately, but down in the lineup. Freeman is the only one I have some confidence in. Kiki should play to get at bats. I would bring up the most promising outfielder we have from the minors before September 1st to see if he could help this offense get out of its own way. The pitching will be fine as long as they stay healthy. The bullpen will be totally different in a month. Team looks tired and slow right now. Maybe a bunt and hit and run and a steal thrown in should help. Wake up Roberts!
Gman
This team looks awful. Agree with the comments made. Also, the acquisitions of Diaz + Tucker have both been disasterous. Friedman shares much of the blame for the team’s decline. The team has stopped short of raising the white flag, but that’s the message the fans are getting. To be blunt, there will definitely not be a three peat + for this there’s plenty of blame to go around the entire Dodger organization.