Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed after Tuesday’s game against the San Francisco Giants that Shohei Ohtani will not be in the lineup as a hitter for Wednesday’s home game, when he is scheduled to start on the mound. Ohtani will focus exclusively on pitching, skipping batting duties entirely.
In Tuesday’s matchup, Ohtani started as the designated hitter and leadoff man, playing the full game. He opened with a single to right field in the first inning, setting the stage for the game’s first run. In the third inning, with the score tied, he crushed a solo home run to center—his seventh of the season—ending a drought of 12 games and 53 at-bats. The blast gave the Dodgers a temporary lead, and Ohtani visibly looked skyward as he rounded the bases, a rare display of emotion reflecting his recent struggles. He finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and one walk.
Roberts had already stated before Tuesday’s game that Ohtani would get a day off from the lineup on Thursday for rest. After the loss, he further revealed that Ohtani would also be absent from the batting order on Wednesday to focus on his start. This season, Ohtani has made six appearances on the mound, with three starts as both pitcher and hitter and three as a pure pitcher, posting a 2-2 record and a 0.97 ERA.
Despite Ohtani’s go-ahead homer, Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto struggled, allowing a career-worst three home runs and five earned runs over 5⅓ innings, as the team fell 6–2. The loss extended Los Angeles’ losing streak to four games. All eyes will now be on Ohtani to help snap the skid when he takes the mound.
