LOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani remained out of the Dodgers' starting lineup for Friday night's series opener against the Nationals as the two-way superstar continues to deal with nagging physical concerns.
It is the first time this season that Ohtani has not started back-to-back games (earlier this season, he got a two-game reset as a hitter while starting one of those games on the mound).
Ohtani is considered day to day. He didn't participate in baseball activities on Thursday and accordingly was unavailable to pinch-hit in the ninth inning, when the Dodgers walked off the Cardinals, 3-2, without him.
Ongoing conversations between Ohtani, manager Dave Roberts and the training staff will determine Ohtani's availability moving forward. For the time being, Roberts doesn’t expect that Ohtani will go on the injured list.
“Right now, I would consider it unlikely," Roberts said. "Unlikely, but not impossible."
General manager Brandon Gomes said that the Dodgers have no reason to place Ohtani on the IL at this point in time.
"I think not having Shohei in the lineup for 10 days or whatever it would be is something that we would prefer not to do," Gomes said. "It really hasn't even been something that we've discussed."
Ohtani has not spoken to the media since Aug. 17 in Colorado, declining multiple requests for comment in that span.
Without Ohtani in the lineup on Friday, Tommy Edman took over the leadoff spot and Alex Call got the start at designated hitter, just like on Thursday.