Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani isn't playing in Thursday night's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals amid mounting concerns about his health.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani is being considered day-to-day, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. It's unclear if he'll be available off the bench Thursday.
Roberts added that he believes it's unlikely the club will place Ohtani on the injured list, but it's "not impossible," according to Sonja Chen of MLB.com. The four-time MVP hasn't landed on the IL since late in the 2023 season, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
"Nothing has indicated that it should be an IL at this point," general manager Brandon Gomes said, per Katie Woo of The Athletic.
Ohtani has been battling a litany of injuries this summer. He hasn't made a mound appearance since July 3 due to lingering knee pain and a biceps issue. After striking out four times during Wednesday's loss to the Cardinals, he told the team he was feeling both bicep and neck discomfort during the contest, according to Jack Harris of the California Post.
"Tonight was kind of the tip of the iceberg," Roberts said postgame Wednesday, according to Woo. "But I've seen it over the last couple weeks, where he hasn't been who he is.
"I saw the same thing that everyone saw," the skipper added, according to Beth Harris of The Associated Press. "You could see the swing wasn't the swing that we're used to seeing. He's not close to optimal."
Although he's still produced a brilliant season, Ohtani's been mired in a funk that's gotten worse over the last five weeks. Since Aug. 18, the 32-year-old has posted a .545 OPS with only three extra-base hits and 20 strikeouts in 62 plate appearances. Gomes, the GM, feels that his star's struggles are unrelated to his health, per Ardaya.
Ohtani's also been trying to work his way back as a pitcher while continuing to serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter. He came close to making a start in Detroit last week but felt knee discomfort during a bullpen session. While the Dodgers are hoping he'll return to the mound during the playoffs, Roberts conceded Wednesday that Ohtani may not pitch again this season.
Overall, Ohtani is hitting .279/.381/.525 with 30 homers, 80 RBIs, and 11 steals in 129 games this year. As a pitcher, he's put up a 1.79 ERA and 0.95 WHIP, along with a 10.0 K/9 in 14 starts.
Alex Call drew into Thursday's lineup and will DH as the No. 8 hitter against St. Louis.
