The Los Angeles Dodgers have been without Shohei Ohtani in the rotation for a while now, and just as he was supposed to return, he has suffered a setback.
Following a 20-pitch bullpen session on Friday, Ohtani reportedly was not "100 percent," per The Athletic's Katie Woo. The Dodgers decided that he would not pitch on Sunday or Tuesday. Ohtani has been dealing with a knee issue that caused him to get an orthovisc injection. He is also dealing with a biceps issue.
Roberts noted that if any pitcher was feeling the way Ohtani was, the team would not let them pitch. However, unlike a normal pitcher, Ohtani can't go on a rehab assignment and is a major piece of the Dodgers offense. Ohtani was planning to build up in big league games, but Roberts noted that if he is not 100 percent, it may not be worth pushing him.
“In the sense of coming out of (the bullpen), you’re a couple days away from taking the mound again, and you don’t feel you know 100 percent,” Roberts said. “So it’s to ask the question, if you’re not 100 percent going into now ramping up in a major-league game, is it worth it?”
Roberts confirmed that the team has not made a decision on shutting him down from pitching and there is a chance he pitches again this year. However, his comments clearly indicate that the team would rather not push him and risk hurting his offensive output.
“Where we’re at right now with the starting pitching certainly being a strength, his value offensively is hugely important, and so we can’t compromise that in any fashion,” Roberts said. “So, if throwing potentially cuts into that, that’s not worth the squeeze. Very, very bullish on making sure we don’t compromise the hitting.”
Roberts is not wrong when it comes to his comment about the team's strengths. They have no shortage of elite pitchers. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Eric Lauer and Justin Wrobleski are an elite group.
Wrobleski is injured right now, but he was an All-Star this year. Snell, Skubal, Glasnow and Yamamoto are all aces and would be the No. 1 pitcher on most teams. Sasaki has been very good since the All-Star Break. As good as Ohtani is on the mound, the team does not need him to start games.
Even if he does not admit it, the strain pitching has on his body can clearly impact his offense.
“As far as him as an offensive player, that’s very important,” Roberts said of Ohtani. “As a pitcher, for me, given the strength of our staff, our team, I don’t think that’s as important. I think it’s important for us not to compromise his health in any capacity. But for me, his presence in the batter’s box is hugely important.”
If Ohtani does not pitch again, he may not run away with MVP, but he may be healthier for a World Series run. The Dodgers are interested in a three-peat, and it seems like they would rather have a healthy Ohtani in the box than on the mound, so why even put him through the strain of pitching?