Shohei Ohtani‘s career-best 53-game on-base streak ended on a night he pitched six scoreless innings.
It’s something only Ohtani could achieve, but the two-way superstar could be having games like that a little bit less often.
“I’m focused, as a leadoff hitter, to get on base. As long as I feel good overall, the result will follow,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “It hasn’t been the case [lately].”
Earlier than Wednesday’s loss to San Francisco, Los Angeles Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts made it clear he is dedicated to Ohtani’s well being and maintaining him contemporary to carry out each on the mound and on the plate for the lengthy haul.
And that will look completely different by the day or week, relying on how Ohtani is feeling.
“I am going to at all times let the supervisor make that closing choice, and I am at all times going to be ready after I’m beginning that I am hitting,” Ohtani mentioned. “But when it is smart as a staff to often put a man in as a DH or hit later, that is superb as effectively. I would not wish to do the identical extra other than that.”
For some video games, that would imply Ohtani pitches however would not bat because the designated hitter — and Roberts plans to maintain his choices open.
Ohtani was strong on the mound once more for the Dodgers in a 3-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants, permitting no earned runs for the third time in 4 begins this season. Every week earlier, Ohtani was held out of the lineup whereas pitching for the primary time since 2021 as a result of he was nonetheless sore from getting hit by a pitch.
Ohtani batted in his customary leadoff spot and went 0 for 4 with a strikeout, hitting a fly ball to left in his final at-bat. That ended an on-base streak that matched Shawn Inexperienced for the second-longest in Dodgers historical past. Duke Snider owns the staff document at 58 video games from Could 13-July 11, 1954. Ohtani’s streak was the longest within the majors since Orlando Cabrera reached base in 63 straight from April 25-July 6, 2006.
“The season’s not over, and I might begin one other streak and that might be nice,” Ohtani mentioned. “We’ll see the way it goes.”
The 31-year-old Ohtani noticed his batting common drop from .271 to .258. He has allowed one earned run over 24 innings for an ERA of 0.38 and a 2-0 document, surrendering 15 hits with 25 strikeouts and 6 walks.
“I feel when you have a look at the general numbers it is actually one thing. I nonetheless really feel actually good about placing his title within the lineup,” Roberts mentioned. “I do know the final begin I selected to not have him hit and simply pitch. I’m open to it. We’ll see. It is one thing that we have actually flagged, and likewise you need to have a look at what is the possibility. In years previous or final 12 months, you have to sort of weigh, who’s a unique possibility?”
Catcher Dalton Rushing has change into a succesful fill-in at DH. He is hitting .414 with seven homers and 13 RBIs.
The 2-time defending World Series champion Dodgers have dropped 4 of 5. They misplaced 3-1 in Tuesday night time’s sequence opener at rival San Francisco.
Roberts had but to determine whether or not Ohtani would play the sequence finale Thursday. He mentioned beforehand he had no qualms about giving Ohtani 5 at-bats on a day he’s pitching however would think about shifting him down within the batting order if that is smart.
“I feel every part ought to be on the desk,” Roberts mentioned.
Reporting by The Related Press.
