The Los Angeles Dodgers wanted to give Shohei Ohtani a break. He responded with his first homer since April 26.
With their best player struggling early in the season, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Tuesday told reporters Tuesday he was planning to give Ohtani the day off Thursday when the Dodgers close a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants.
Advertisement
Roberts was also leaning toward sitting Ohtani on offense during his scheduled pitching start Wednesday against San Francisco. Roberts confirmed the plan a day after telling reporters he intended to give Ohtani at least one day off this week.
Here’s what happened about four hours later.
Ohtani hit in his normal leadoff spot Tuesday night against Giants righty Adrian Houser. After hitting a leadoff single in the first inning, he crushed a 398-foot homer in the third inning to give his team a 2-1 lead.
It remains to be seen if that will alter the Dodgers’ plans, though they are the sort of team that doesn’t alter course based on just one good or bad performance. Roberts said he’s getting at least one day off from hitting going forward.
Advertisement
“It certainly should be on the table,” Roberts said Monday when asked about giving Ohtani a mental break with a day off.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani walks back to the dugout after striking out during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants in Los Angeles on Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The Dodgers had just come off a 9-3 loss as Ohtani went 0-for-5 in the leadoff spot. Roberts was then asked if Ohtani was as “out of whack” as he’s seen him.
“Yes, it is,” Roberts said. “Even early on when he wasn’t right, he was still taking walks and getting on base. I think right now — and tonight was a classic example — I think he’s trying to swing out of it.
“So that’s just apparent. A lot of hitters, when they’re struggling, they want to kind of swing out of it. And tonight was one of those nights.”
Advertisement
Rough start at the plate for Shohei
A four-time MVP, Ohtani is mired in his worst slump since joining the Dodgers. Through 38 games this season, he was slashing .233/.363/.404 entering Tuesday, significantly lower than his career line of .280/.374/.576.
He had tallied four hits in his previous 10 games, going hitless in seven of them. A two-time home run champion, Ohtani hadn’t homered in 11 games before his blast on Tuesday.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, entered Tuesday having lost three straight and eight of their last 12. Their record was 24-17, a half-game behind the first-place San Diego Padres in the NL West.
Advertisement
Ohtani has been stellar on the mound and is making an early-season Cy Young case. In 37 innings pitched, Ohtani’s posted a 0.97 ERA and 0.811 WHIP with 42 strikeouts and 9 walks.
Roberts was hoping a brief break from the box can help Ohtani get back on track with his bat. The two-way superstar might also be figuring things out himself.