Shohei Ohtani injury; Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has an update before Reds matchup
· Yahoo Sports
Shohei Ohtani will not be in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup again as the team takes a cautious approach with its two-way superstar.
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Ohtani has been dealing with soreness in his left knee, right biceps and neck. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts provided an update before Monday’s matchup with the Cincinnati Reds.
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Roberts described the decision to rest Ohtani as “proactive.” He also indicated that Ohtani would likely play if the Dodgers were preparing for a postseason game instead.
That distinction explains the Dodgers’ approach. Los Angeles has a comfortable position in the NL West, giving the team more freedom to protect its biggest star.
Ohtani’s season has still been impressive despite the physical issues. He is hitting .277 with 30 home runs, 80 RBIs and a .902 OPS in 130 games.
His pitching season is already over, though. Ohtani went 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 144 strikeouts over 85.2 innings in 14 starts before the Dodgers shut him down on the mound.
Now, Los Angeles must manage his workload on offense as well. Ohtani returned to the lineup earlier this month but struggled during his final stretch before landing on the injured list.
The timing makes the decision easier for the Dodgers. Los Angeles entered Monday with a 90-59 record and a strong lead in the NL West.
The Dodgers are also competing with the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record in the National League. That makes every game important, but keeping Ohtani healthy for October carries even greater value.
The Reds entered the matchup at 70-79 and are no longer in the NL Central race. They can still create problems for a Dodgers lineup missing its biggest offensive threat.
For now, Roberts appears more concerned with the bigger picture. Ohtani does not need to push through September discomfort if the Dodgers can give him time to recover.
That could mean more rest days in the coming weeks. The Dodgers would rather have a healthy Ohtani in October than risk making his current issues worse in September.
If this were a postseason game, Roberts suggested the decision might be different. For now, the Dodgers are choosing to protect their biggest weapon.
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