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Shohei Ohtani’s best 53-game on-base streak ended on a night in which he pitched six scoreless innings.
It’s something only Ohtani could pull off, but the two-way superstar might have games like that a little less often.
“I’m focused, as a leadoff hitter, on getting on base. As long as I feel good overall, the result will follow,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “It has not been the case [lately]”.
Before Wednesday’s loss to San Francisco, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it clear that he is committed to Ohtani’s health and keeping him fresh to perform both on the mound and at the plate long-term.
And that can look different every day or week, depending on how Ohtani feels.
“I’ll always let the manager make the final decision and I’ll always be ready when I start hitting,” Ohtani said. “But if it makes sense as a team to occasionally put a player in as a designated hitter or hit later, that’s fine too. I wouldn’t want to do the same thing beyond that.”
For some games, that could mean Ohtani pitches but doesn’t hit as a designated hitter, and Roberts plans to keep his options open.
Ohtani looked solid again on the mound for the Dodgers in a 3-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants, allowing no earned runs for the third time in four starts this season. A week earlier, Ohtani was held out of the lineup while pitching for the first time since 2021 because he was still sore from being hit by a pitch.
Ohtani batted in his usual leadoff spot and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout, flying out to left field in his final at-bat. That ended an on-base streak that tied Shawn Green for the second-longest in Dodgers history. Duke Snider holds the team record with 58 games from May 13 to July 11, 1954. Ohtani’s streak was the longest in the majors since Orlando Cabrera reached base in 63 straight games from April 25 to July 6, 2006.
“The season isn’t over and another streak could start and that would be great,” Ohtani said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
Ohtani, 31, saw his batting average drop from .271 to .258. He has allowed one earned run in 24 innings for a 0.38 ERA and a 2-0 record, allowing 15 hits with 25 strikeouts and six walks.
“I think if you look at the overall numbers, it’s certainly something. I still feel really good about putting his name in the lineup,” Roberts said. “I know in the last start I chose not to hit and just pitch. I’m open to that. We’ll see. It’s something we’ve certainly pointed out, and you also have to see what the option is. In years past or last year, you have to weigh, who is a different option?”
Catcher Dalton Rushing has emerged as a capable replacement at designated hitter. He is hitting .414 with seven home runs and 13 RBIs.
The Dodgers, two-time defending World Series champions, have lost four of five. They lost 3-1 in Tuesday night’s series opener against rival San Francisco.
Roberts had yet to decide whether Ohtani would perform in the series finale on Thursday. He said beforehand that he had no qualms about giving Ohtani five at-bats on a day when he pitches, but that he would consider moving him down the batting order if that makes sense.
“I think everything should be on the table,” Roberts said.
Information from The Associated Press.
