Dodgers news: Dave Roberts comments on growing concern on Shohei Ohtani's swing appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Shohei Ohtani has been dealing with some knee troubles over the past two months or so, and this has kept him away from the mound since the third of July. But the Los Angeles Dodgers have deemed him to be healthy enough to keep on suiting up on their everyday lineup as the team’s designated hitter. However, it looks like his performance at the plate is suffering as well from some sort of knock, as he hasn’t been his usually elite self.
Ohtani has had a very rough go as of late. Since the 18th of August, the Dodgers star has posted an unsightly OPS of .545, having gone 7-51 from the plate during that span.
On Wednesday, in an 8-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, Ohtani went 0-4, and he struck out in a crucial at-bat in the 10th inning with LA down by three, 8-5. Something is clearly not right with the reigning NL MVP, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will be taking a closer look at his physical condition.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)
“[We will] really try to figure out where he’s at physically. Clearly the swings aren’t who he is. Obviously, there’s some compensation,” Roberts said following the Dodgers’ loss to the Cardinals, per Dodger Blue on X.
Suffice to say, it truly might be worth taking a closer look at Ohtani’s health. It might prove very useful for a Dodgers team that’s currently leading the division by nine games with 23 games to go in the season to give him some time to rest to get him back to his best once the postseason begins.
The Dodgers have the luxury of being able to rotate their players out, and they have a deep starting rotation anyway to compensate for whatever they might lose at the plate if they rest Ohtani.
Related: Dodgers still winless in Cardinals series after unfortunate 10th inning
Related: Freddie Freeman breaks nearly 2 month home run drought vs. Cardinals