Shohei Ohtani was out of the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup for the second consecutive day on Friday, a situation arising from ongoing concerns about his knee and biceps injuries. This marks the first time this season that the star player has missed consecutive games.
Ohtani was also absent from the team's batting order on Thursday. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and general manager Brandon Gomes had previously indicated that an injured list stint for Ohtani was unlikely, though it remains unclear if that expectation has changed.
The two-way player has been managing both injuries for a significant portion of the season and has not pitched since early July. However, his physical condition has come under renewed scrutiny this week. This follows a recent slump at the plate, where he batted 6-for-46, and a particularly concerning four-strikeout performance on Wednesday, during which he appeared to be in visible discomfort while swinging.
Within the organization, there are varying levels of concern regarding the 32-year-old's physical state. Roberts acknowledged that Ohtani has not appeared to be playing at his usual level for the past couple of weeks, even offensively, an area where his injuries were not initially believed to be impacting his performance. Roberts suggested that some time off could benefit the four-time MVP.
In contrast, Gomes downplayed the extent to which Ohtani's ailments have affected his play. Gomes stated that Ohtani's day off on Thursday was a direct response to the clear discomfort he displayed on Wednesday. He also expressed hope that Ohtani might still return to the mound this year.
Despite these differing perspectives, questions surrounding Ohtani's health are expected to persist, particularly as he misses back-to-back games for the first time this season.