Shohei Ohtani is embracing a new challenge—and it's one that might just redefine his legendary season. The Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way superstar was kept out of the lineup for his start against the Houston Astros on Tuesday, and he's not complaining. In fact, he sees the logic behind it.

Ohtani has been strictly pitching in three of his last four outings, and the results on the mound have been nothing short of stellar. Over 19 innings, he's allowed just five runs while racking up 27 strikeouts. But at the plate? That's a different story. Since April 15, Ohtani is slashing just .226/.360/.355 with a .715 OPS and only one home run. He's also mired in an 0-for-17 slump.

"If I was hitting well, I'm sure the team would want me to pitch and hit as well," Ohtani said. "But I understand, in a situation where they're saying, 'Hey, just focus on pitching, turn the page on the hitting.' I understand that the team might think like that."

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, however, insists the decision to pull Ohtani from the lineup wasn't solely about the numbers. "Just kind of seeing how it's playing out, I think it's best for everyone," Roberts said. "Definitely not results. It's a little bit more body language and just watching the player."

Ohtani isn't alone in his offensive struggles. The entire Dodgers lineup has been quiet lately, scoring five or more runs just twice in their last three series. In every loss during that stretch, the team has managed two runs or fewer. It's a team-wide funk that has put extra pressure on the pitching staff.

But while the bat has gone cold, Ohtani's arm has been on fire. After surpassing the innings threshold to qualify for league leaders on Tuesday, he now owns a jaw-dropping 0.97 ERA—best in all of Major League Baseball. Through 37 innings, he's allowed just four earned runs and punched out 42 batters. FanGraphs currently ranks him third in their National League Cy Young projections, trailing only Atlanta's Chris Sale and Bryce Elder.

With four months still left in the season, there's plenty of time for Ohtani to rediscover his rhythm at the plate. And if his pitching is any indication, the Dodgers' two-way star is just getting started. Whether he's on the mound or in the batter's box, one thing is clear: Ohtani is a force to be reckoned with, and the best may be yet to come.