LOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani was not in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers' 6-5 victory over Washington on Saturday, as the two-way star deals with left knee and right biceps discomfort.
Ohtani has missed three consecutive games for the first time since joining the Dodgers for the 2024 season on a 10-year, $700 million deal. Without Ohtani, Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernandez provided key hits as the Dodgers rallied for the victory over the Nationals.
Before the win, manager Dave Roberts reported some progress, saying Ohtani would do some pregame hitting in the indoor batting cages after not taking swings Thursday or Friday. Roberts did not rule out a pinch-hitting appearance.
The Dodgers are still contemplating a stint on the injured list. If Ohtani goes on the IL by Sunday, the move can be backdated a maximum three days to when he was held out of a game against St. Louis on Thursday.
Ohtani has exclusively been a designated hitter since his last pitching appearance on July 2, but because he is designated as a two-way player, he would have a minimum 15-day IL stint.
"That'd be more of a deterrent," Roberts said of an IL move.
Ohtani was 7-for-51 (.137) with one home run over his past 13 games. He struck out a season-high four times against the Cardinals on Wednesday.
"I feel that it's gotten a lot better given his demeanor the last couple days," Roberts said. "What I have learned about Shohei is when he doesn't feel well, physically, he gets more short, and it's just not the same personality, which makes sense. And so I think the last couple days he's gotten a lot more loose and easy-going."
After winning the National League MVP Award the past two seasons, Ohtani is batting .279 with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs in 129 games this season. He is also 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts, 85â…” innings, as a pitcher.
Also in the win, Los Angeles catcher Dalton Rushing, scheduled to DH, was scratched due to elbow discomfort.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
