LOS ANGELES -- After striking out for the fourth time on Wednesday night, Shohei Ohtani shook out his right arm and winced. For manager Dave Roberts, it was one of many signs that evening that his two-way superstar was feeling physically compromised at the plate.
The Dodgers have acknowledged that Ohtani has not felt good physically while trying to return to the mound, but they had previously maintained that he was not having any such issues as a hitter. But the way he looked on Wednesday seemed to indicate otherwise.
“I think that tonight was kind of the tip of the iceberg," Roberts said after the Dodgers' 8-6 loss to the Cardinals in 10 innings. "But I've seen it over the last couple weeks, where he hasn't been who he is.”
Roberts said that he, Ohtani and the training staff will have a conversation about how Ohtani is feeling on Thursday. Ohtani getting a day off -- or perhaps multiple -- seems to be on the table. Roberts does not believe that an injured list stint is in the cards.
"Is a day or two -- or I mean, shoot, even 10 days, is that going to help get him to be 100%? Don't know the answer," Roberts said. "But I think where we're at, I think he's just going to have to find a way to make do and do the best he can. But what can I do? Have the conversation. Get him off his feet. Kind of try to get some strength back. Get him feeling better, and then run him out there."
If Ohtani needs to take time off as a hitter, then his likelihood of returning to the mound would appear even slimmer than it has become over the past several days. Ohtani has not spoken to the media since Aug. 17 in Colorado.
Ohtani has been dealing with myriad physical issues, including left knee soreness that has been the primary reason that he has not pitched since July 3. He has dealt with a lingering right biceps issue that first affected him as a hitter, then as a pitcher. Roberts said Ohtani's "overall body" was "not 100%" when he threw an ill-fated bullpen session last Friday that rendered his timeline to return to pitching indefinite.
Since Ohtani restarted a throwing program on Aug. 8, he is hitting .204 (19-for-93) with a .704 OPS. He has struck out 32 times in that span.
The Dodgers don't believe that there was direct causation between Ohtani's throwing program and his production at the plate, but they acknowledge that being a two-way player comes with a toll. Whether that toll be physical or mental, the team's priority at this point in time is not compromising Ohtani as a hitter.
Now that Ohtani looks compromised, the Dodgers must decide how to proceed with the aim of getting him right in time for the postseason. Ohtani, like many superstars, never wants to take a day off. But it may be best for the long-term interest of both him and the team if he does.
"I know he feels that he needs to post and be in the lineup. If he's upright, he should play. I respect that," Roberts said. "But if he's feeling the way that visibly looks, then really not helping anyone. So that's the conversation I'll have with him."