For five years, Shohei Ohtani had been his team’s designated hitterevery time he took the mound for a pitching start.
For the second time in three weeks, he will be tasked on Tuesday with only pitching for the Dodgers once again.
As manager Dave Roberts announced Tuesday night, Ohtani will not be the club’s batting lineup as DH for his latest pitching outing against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium.
Last time it happened, on April 15 against the New York Mets, it was because the two-way star was nursing a bruised shoulder.
This time, it is much more illustrative of the way the Dodgers are trying tomanage the four-time MVP’s workload.
Prior to making his official announcement after Tuesday’s game, Roberts explained why the Dodgers were considering such a move in his afternoon address to reporters.
He noted that, for the first time this year, Ohtani will be pitching on only five days’ rest as opposed to his typical six or seven. He also cited the fact that Wednesday’s series finale will be a noon start, leaving a tight turnaround for Ohtani to be ready to DH again in that day’s game.
“All that matters,” Roberts said.
Still, in the bigger picture, Tuesday is yetanother reminder of the increased burdenOhtani is taking on this season.
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