Dodgers rest Shohei Ohtani's batting duties to curb offensive slump
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has taken Shohei Ohtani out of the designated‑hitter role for one to two games after the two‑way star’s batting has faltered. Ohtani entered May batting around .23‑.24 with just two home runs in his last 24 games, ending an 11‑game homerless stretch with a solo shot against the San Francisco Giants. Roberts said, “It might just be a good thing to take a little bit of a load off of his plate offensively,” and added that the rest could help Ohtani reset his mechanics.
The move comes as the Dodgers sit a half‑game behind the NL West leader, holding a 24‑17/18 record. While Ohtani continues to pitch effectively – a 2‑2 record, 0.97 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 37 innings – his offensive output has lagged, prompting the team to protect its most valuable asset by giving him a brief hiatus from the lineup.