Shohei Ohtani will start on the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their series finale against the New York Mets on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, but he will not hit. The decision marks the first time in years Ohtani has pitched without batting in the same game. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts cited a recent hit-by-pitch and the need to focus on pitching as key factors.
Ohtani was struck by a pitch on the back of his right shoulder by Mets starter David Peterson on Monday. He went 0-for-7 at the plate afterward. Roberts said, 'If it weren’t for the hit-by-pitch, he would’ve been DHing and pitching tonight.' The injury will not prevent Ohtani from pitching, but the Dodgers opted to rest him from hitting to keep him loose and focused solely on his mound work. Roberts added, 'When he’s hitting, there’s a component that he’s in the cage getting ready to hit, and if we can take that off his plate and just focus on one thing tonight, we felt it was the best thing for him.' Kyle Tucker moved to the leadoff spot, with Dalton Rushing starting as designated hitter in Ohtani's place. This is the first time Ohtani has not hit while starting on the mound since May 28, 2021, before the 'Ohtani rule' allowed two-way players to remain in the lineup as DH after pitching. The rule does not apply here since Ohtani was not listed as a hitter. His MLB-best 48-game on-base streak remains intact, as it does not end without a plate appearance. Ohtani enters with a 0.00 ERA over 12 scoreless innings in two starts this season. Roberts noted Ohtani understood the decision, mimicking his wide-eyed reaction but affirming it benefits the player and team. The Dodgers generally expect Ohtani to handle full two-way duties in future starts unless similar circumstances arise.
