The Los Angeles Dodgers are giving Shohei Ohtani a much-needed breather from the batter's box, as the two-way superstar's offensive slump continues to deepen. Manager Dave Roberts announced Tuesday that Ohtani will not serve as the designated hitter on Thursday, though he may still be available late in the game if the outcome is on the line. Roberts is also considering giving Ohtani a day off from hitting on Wednesday, when he is scheduled to start on the mound against the San Francisco Giants.
"It might just be a good thing to take a little bit of a load off of his plate offensively," Roberts said. "I just can't take for granted what's on his plate, and so I'm trying to be sensitive."
The numbers tell the story of a player struggling to find his rhythm at the plate this month. Ohtani is batting just 4-for-36 in May, with no home runs and only six on the season. His batting average sits at .233, with 16 RBIs—a far cry from the historic production fans have come to expect. After all, this is the same player who created the 50/50 club in 2024, blasting 54 homers and swiping 59 bags on his way to an NL MVP award and a World Series title. He followed that up with another MVP and a second consecutive championship in 2025, hitting 55 home runs while also returning to the mound midseason.
The Dodgers (24-17) have felt the impact of Ohtani's slump, entering Tuesday just half a game behind the NL West-leading San Diego Padres after a three-game losing streak. While Andy Pages (.325) and Max Muncy (.280) have provided sparks, other key hitters like Freddie Freeman (.273) and Kyle Tucker (.250) have also struggled to find consistency.
Interestingly, Ohtani's pitching has been nothing short of dominant. The right-hander is 2-2 with a microscopic 0.97 ERA over six starts, striking out 42 batters in 37 innings while allowing just four earned runs and 21 hits. This season marks his first full campaign as a two-way player for the Dodgers, with no innings restrictions on the mound after undergoing two major right elbow surgeries.
"He's still calibrating on this kind of newfound two-way player," Roberts explained, underscoring the delicate balance of managing Ohtani's immense workload. For Dodgers fans and fantasy owners alike, this brief break from the batter's box could be just what the superstar needs to rediscover his MVP form.