Ohtani Sits 1 Dodgers Game as .233 Slump Deepens Despite 0.97 ERA
Updated
Updated · Sports Illustrated · May 12
Ohtani Sits 1 Dodgers Game as .233 Slump Deepens Despite 0.97 ERA
11 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · May 12
Shohei Ohtani will be out of the Dodgers' lineup as a hitter for either Wednesday or Thursday, with the club trying to reset his swing during an early-season slump.
The move follows a 0-for-5 night against San Francisco and mounting concern over his timing against fastballs; manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani has looked the most out of sync offensively since joining Los Angeles.
At the plate, Ohtani is hitting .233 with 6 home runs, 16 RBIs and a .767 OPS — well below the 1.000-plus OPS he posted in each of the last three seasons.
The contrast is sharp because Ohtani will still pitch Wednesday, carrying a 0.97 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 37 innings as he chases a Cy Young-caliber season.
Los Angeles' broader offensive lull has added urgency: the defending champions are 24-17, have lost 4 of their last 6 series, and Roberts said the lineup often feeds off stars like Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.
As Ohtani’s bat cools, are the Dodgers risking a third title by prioritizing his health over immediate wins?
Is Shohei Ohtani’s historic Cy Young chase forcing him to sacrifice his legendary hitting prowess?