Shohei Ohtani's ongoing injury concerns were amplified during the Los Angeles Dodgers' 8-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night. Ohtani experienced discomfort in his right arm, the same limb he has been managing a biceps issue with this year, during his final plate appearance.
The two-way superstar struck out four times in an 0-for-4 performance, and replays showed him shaking his arm and wincing after swings in the 10th inning. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the visible signs of distress following the game.
"I saw the same thing that everyone saw,” Roberts said. “I saw the shaking of the arm. I saw the wincing. Clearly, the swings aren’t who he is. Obviously there’s some compensation."
Roberts indicated that Ohtani's availability for Thursday's game, and potentially beyond, was uncertain. He stated he would discuss the situation with Ohtani and the head athletic trainer, Thomas Albert, to assess his physical condition.
When asked about the possibility of Ohtani requiring a stint on the injured list, Roberts offered a cautious outlook. “It won’t be an IL –– unless it is,” he said. “It’s very unlikely. But I do think that I’m going to have a conversation. We’ll decide after I talk to him what’s the extent of it.”
Ohtani has been playing through both a biceps issue and a lingering left knee injury since June. While these ailments have prevented him from pitching, both he and the Dodgers have maintained that his performance at the plate was unaffected until Wednesday. His recent slump, going 6-for-46, was compounded by what appeared to be a compromised swing during the game.
