Shohei Ohtani’s return to the Dodgers’ lineup was short-lived, at least temporarily.
After missing four games over the last week while managing ongoing left knee and right arm injuries, Ohtani was back in the Dodgers’ starting lineup for Monday’s series opener against the Reds.
However, following an 0-for-3 performance with two strikeouts and one walk that night, the two-way star was out of the lineup once again on Tuesday — offering the latest sign of the delicate balance the Dodgers are trying to strike with the uncertain state of his health.
According to manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani “came out of yesterday well” but was nonetheless being rested on Tuesday as a form of load management.
“Talking to the training staff, it’s more the thought of, ‘Let’s build him up slowly,’” Roberts said.
Roberts said Ohtani could be available off the bench “in a big spot” on Tuesday, if needed, and was expected to return to his starting DH role for Wednesday’s series finale, which will precede a scheduled day off for the team on Thursday.
How long it will take the 32-year-old to return to everyday duties, however, remains a question.
“It’s about, ‘What can we do to get him to optimum as we get into the postseason?’” Roberts said. “So, I think a day here or there is not the worst thing, to make sure overall that his body feels as close to 100% as possible.”
In the wake of Monday’s game, Roberts did not commit to playing Ohtani again on Tuesday, saying the team would “see how he feels tomorrow” before deciding on his status.
But, there was no sign another off day for Ohtani was imminent, either.
Instead, Roberts made a point of noting how the four-time MVP had “come out of [the game] feeling good,” despite another hitless performance that extended Ohtani’s recent slump to 6-for-49 over his last 13 games.
That made Tuesday’s news the latest reminder of the health-related challenges Ohtani still faces this year. Though the team and the slugger insisted he had made progress during his four-day break last week, he is still far enough from full strength physically that his workload remains limited for now.
“I think it’s just more of being proactive,” Roberts said. “We have 19, 20 games left. We have some off days in there. So [his workload plan] is not premeditated, predetermined. But I can see a couple more off days in there for him.”
Whether it helps get his slumping swing back on track in time for October remains to be seen.
