Shohei Ohtani is in a rare batting slump, but don't count out the Dodgers' two-way superstar just yet. The four-time NL MVP is hitless in his last 17 at-bats and was held out of Tuesday's lineup for his third straight pitching start, sparking debate about whether the physical and mental demands of his dual role are taking a toll.

But here's the thing: even the best hitters go through rough patches. In 2024, when Ohtani wasn't pitching at all, he still hit just .139 during a 17-game stretch in July and August. So is his current slump really about the added pitching workload, or just part of baseball's natural rhythm? History suggests it's the latter—when Ohtani emerges from these lulls, he often goes on to carry his team for months.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is walking a careful line, balancing Ohtani's contributions at the plate with his growing role on the mound. "The health part, appreciating there's a long way to go," Roberts told DodgersNation.com. "That's the main thing. Having him do both duties, how sustainable is it without taking a bit off his plate?"

On the pitching side, Ohtani has been nothing short of dominant. Healthy for the first time since 2023, he's posted a jaw-dropping 0.60 ERA through five starts, with 34 strikeouts and just nine walks in 30 innings. He was named NL Pitcher of the Month and was slated to start against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park—without batting duties, giving his 31-year-old body a chance to focus on one job.

Offensively, he's hitting .240 with a .432 slugging percentage, which would be his second-lowest mark ever. His 125 WRC+ would be his lowest since 2020. Still, he remains the favorite for a fifth NL MVP award—a testament to how much he's already accomplished this season.

For context, here's a look at Ohtani's worst batting slumps over the past five seasons—and a reminder that even legends have off days.