The Los Angeles Dodgers may need to consider limiting Shohei Ohtani's pitching workload, particularly his upcoming starts, as he recently experienced biceps tightness and has not been as sharp on the mound as earlier in the season. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that resting Ohtani for his next scheduled start is an option that should be on the table. The two-way star was pinch-hit for in the sixth inning of a recent game against the Padres after reporting discomfort in his right biceps.
Ohtani stated he had a similar biceps issue a month or two ago that he played through, but it primarily affects him when hitting. Roberts described his removal from the game as precautionary, emphasizing that the team would not gamble with his health. Ohtani will not be the designated hitter on Saturday and is unlikely to pitch in the All-Star Game.
The Dodgers currently hold a 14-game lead in the National League West, positioning them to afford Ohtani a break from pitching. Ohtani himself had aimed to compete for a Cy Young Award, but he is on pace to pitch fewer than 160 innings, making serious consideration for the award improbable. In his last four starts, he has been charged with 12 earned runs, including three in his most recent no-decision start.
Despite these recent pitching struggles, the Dodgers have won seven of their last eight games in which Ohtani has pitched. Ohtani expressed a desire to return from the All-Star break in better health to be in optimal condition for the postseason. He acknowledged feeling the physical toll of being a two-way player for the first time in three years, noting that he has not felt like he could sprint at 100% this season. Nevertheless, he expressed pride in his participation, having appeared in 82 games as a designated hitter and made 14 starts as a pitcher.
During his last start, Ohtani walked the first two batters, leading to an early run. He also allowed a solo home run and a run-scoring double before departing with the team trailing 3-0. The Dodgers eventually came back to win the game. Ohtani indicated that while the second half of the season is important, creating distance in the standings now would make later games easier. He also suggested he would accept a decision from Roberts to skip his next start.