LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani took his customary spot atop the Dodgers’ batting order for their game Sunday afternoon against the Washington Nationals. But it might not be long before he drops in the order on the days or nights he assumes his additional role as one of their starting pitchers.
Manager Dave Roberts said he approached Ohtani after his first start after a two-year layoff following elbow surgery if he wished to remain as a leadoff hitter, and Ohtani told him “he was completely fine with it.” It wasn’t a fatigue thing or anything like that, but it was something to consider.
“I think right now we’ll play it status quo, but you know coming out of this one (start against the Nationals) it might make more sense to drop to second or third or fourth,” Roberts said of shifting Ohtani out of the leadoff role. “But right now, we’ll remain status quo. I have not seen signs of fatigue.”
Compounding matters, Ohtani went into Sunday’s game mired in a 2-for-19 skid without an extra base hit or a run in his past five games. He was 0-for-4 in the Dodgers’ loss Saturday to Washington, striking out twice with runners in scoring position and continuing a pattern in which he had whiffed in eight of 10 at-bats.
“I think, like all hitters, when you start chasing outside of the strikezone, it’s hard to have consistent success,” Roberts said when asked if he’s noticed anything dramatic in Ohtani’s approach at the plate. “I don’t think that’s a fatigue thing, but we’ll manage it. … Once we ramp it up (his innings as a pitcher), it might be a different conversation.”
As for Sunday’s game, Roberts said Ohtani would bat leadoff.
“He’s going to throw an inning, potentially, and he’s going to walk up to the on-deck circle and put his stuff on to take his first at-bat,” Roberts said. “He’s good with it right now, but is there a scenario where I feel that it might be better for him in their first at-bat to kind of reshuffle the lineup and give him one, two, three hitters to get set? Sure, absolutely.”
REHAB SUNDAY
Right-hander Tyler Glasnow threw two shutout innings in the first of at least three rehab assignments at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Glasnow, who had been sidelined since April 27 because of back and shoulder issues, did not give up a hit and struck out one with three walks in 48 pitches against Round Rock (Texas).
Righty Luis Garcia threw one inning of shutout ball for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga against Lake Elsinore. Garcia, who has been out since May 27 because of a groin injury, gave up one hit and struck out one while throwing only nine pitches, including eight for strikes.
UPCOMING PROBABLES
Tuesday at Coors Field: The Dodgers’ TBD vs. the Colorado Rockies’ RHP German Marques (3-8, 6.11 ERA). Wednesday: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-6, 2.76) vs.RHP Chase Dollander (2-7, 6.19), Thursday: LHP Clayton Kershaw (3-0, 3.31) vs. LHP Austin Gomber (0-1, 8.38).