HOUSTON – The first four innings were frustrating. The next five were futile. Just when it seemed the Dodgers had shaken off their offensive slump with back-to-back wins and 12 runs over two days, they crashed back to earth Tuesday night in a 2-1 loss to the Houston Astros.

The main storyline, as always, was Shohei Ohtani. For the third time in his last four pitching starts, the two-way superstar was removed from the designated hitter role to focus solely on the mound. He delivered a gem: seven innings, two runs, and eight strikeouts, with only two mistakes – solo home runs by Christian Walker in the second and Branden Shewmake in the third.

But here's the catch: without Ohtani in the lineup, the Dodgers' bats went silent. Los Angeles (22-14) left six runners on base through the first four innings, including a wasted bases-loaded opportunity in the fourth. Then things got worse. Astros right-hander Peter Lambert retired nine of his final 10 batters, completing a scoreless seven-inning start – the first time Houston's league-worst pitching staff has achieved that all season.

The Astros (15-22) bullpen allowed one run in the eighth on a Kyle Tucker RBI single, but held on for the win. Meanwhile, Ohtani's pitching brilliance continues – he now boasts an MLB-best 0.97 ERA – but his absence from the offense remains a glaring issue.

Part of the reason Ohtani was out of the lineup? His current 0-for-17 hitting slump. After a fifth straight hitless performance on Monday, manager Dave Roberts decided to let Ohtani focus purely on pitching. The four-time MVP should return to the lineup Wednesday, as the Dodgers aim to avoid a third consecutive series loss. They could use all the help they can get.