Shohei Ohtani was once again absent from the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting lineup on Wednesday, marking the sixth time in the last seven games the star designated hitter has been held out. This latest omission follows manager Dave Roberts’ definitive statement on Tuesday evening that Ohtani would play on Wednesday.
Roberts had previously stated that Ohtani would be in the lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the Cincinnati Reds, with the expectation that he would start before the team's scheduled off day on Thursday. However, the lineup released Wednesday afternoon did not include the two-way star.
Ohtani's health status has become a significant concern for the Dodgers in recent weeks. Last Wednesday, he showed visible signs of discomfort at the plate during a game, amid ongoing issues with his left knee and right arm. The following day, he was held out of the lineup for the first of four consecutive games as the team opted to give his body extended rest.
He returned to play on Monday, going 0-for-3 with a walk. On Tuesday, Roberts described Ohtani's absence from the lineup as "load management," indicating the team would seek more opportunities to rest him during the remainder of the season. Roberts also noted that Ohtani was available to pinch-hit late in Tuesday's game, despite being shut down from pitching for the year.
It remains unclear why Ohtani was held out of Wednesday's game. Roberts was scheduled to address reporters later on Wednesday afternoon. This is a developing story and will be updated.