For the second time this season, two-way star Shohei Ohtani will not be in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup as a hitter, instead only pitching on Tuesday, April 28, against the Miami Marlins.
Manager Dave Roberts told reporters, including Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, that Ohtani pitching on five days’ rest led to the decision to only have him on the mound tonight. The Dodgers also have a day game on Wednesday, April 29, which contributed to the choice to cap Ohtani’s usage. Roberts said the club was considering “the effect that it might have on him in the ensuing days.”
The matchup against the Marlins will mark Ohtani’s first start on five days’ rest this season. That length of time between outings is typical for normal starters, but the Dodgers tend to build in extra rest for Ohtani, who is a crucial member of the hitting lineup. As Plunkett notes, Ohtani has pitched on regular rest just twice in his LA tenure.
Shohei Ohtani to Only Pitch as the Los Angeles Dodgers Attempt to Monitor His Workload
Ohtani is off to a tremendous start as a pitcher. He’s delivered four consecutive quality starts while punching out more than a batter per inning. Ohtani has allowed just one earned run all season. The length is of particular note, considering Ohtani struggled to work deep into games last season. A shoulder injury kept him off the mound until June. He slowly built up his workload and didn’t reach six innings in an outing until his final start of the regular season. After reaching six frames four times last year (including the playoffs), Ohtani has already done it four times in 2026.
The lefty-swinging Ohtani did not get off to his typical start at the plate. An 0-for-3 outing on Friday, April 24, against the Chicago Cubs dropped his OPS below .800. Ohtani struck out three times in that contest. Back-to-back big games have bumped his numbers back to MVP-like standards. Ohtani went 3-for-3 with a home run in the final game of the Cubs series. He picked up three more hits last night against the Marlins. Ohtani has his OPS back up to an elite .898.
Who Will Replace Ohtani in the Lineup?
The first time Ohtani pitched but didn’t hit this year, it was catcher Dalton Rushing who took over as DH. The young backstop launched a three-run home run in Ohtani’s stead as the Dodgers cruised to an 8-2 win over the New York Mets. Rushing is off to an excellent start at the plate. The 25-year-old has smacked seven home runs in just 45 plate appearances. He has a ridiculous .385/.467/.974 slash line across 13 games.
Rushing is largely blocked from regular playing time, with Will Smith handling the majority of the duties behind the plate and Ohtani normally at DH. Smith inked a 10-year, $140 million contract with the club in 2024, so he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Rushing’s best path to consistent work is likely through more opportunities at DH as the Dodgers look to limit Ohtani’s burden.
Dodgers Defend Decision to Remove Shohei Ohtani From Lineup