When Shohei Ohtani gets a day off, it's never truly a day off—at least not for the rest of the Dodgers' lineup. For the fourth time this season, Los Angeles will take the field without baseball's most electrifying two-way star in the designated hitter's spot. And if recent history is any guide, it's about to get dicey.

In the two most recent games without the reigning back-to-back National League MVP in the batter's box, the Dodgers managed just one run each time. That's a tough pill to swallow, especially when you consider Ohtani has been nothing short of dominant on the mound—arguably the best pitcher in the National League this season. It's a frustrating pattern: great pitching wasted by a sputtering offense.

Now, the Dodgers face an even steeper climb. After being held in check by the bottom of the Giants' rotation in the first two games of this series, they'll square off against one of the few bright spots in San Francisco's otherwise gloomy season: Robbie Ray. The left-hander and former Cy Young winner missed the Dodgers in their earlier series at Oracle Park, making this his first matchup against L.A. this year.

If the Dodgers are searching for a ray of hope—pun intended—they can look to recent history. Ray allowed a combined 10 runs in back-to-back losses to the Dodgers last September, his final two starts of the season. That's the kind of memory that can fuel a lineup looking for any spark.

As for who will fill Ohtani's massive shoes in the DH spot, Dalton Rushing has been the go-to in the other three instances—all against left-handers. While a minuscule sample size shows Rushing hitting five-for-15 against southpaws, the Dodgers have multiple righty platoon specialists on the bench, making it unlikely he'll retain the role. Miguel Rojas is expected to start over Hyesog Kim in the infield, leaving the DH spot to either Alex Call or Santiago Espinal. Based on 2026 numbers, Call appears to have the edge.

For Dodgers fans, it's a game of hoping the offense can finally find its rhythm—before another stellar Ohtani outing goes to waste.