Sept. 3 (UPI) — The Los Angeles Dodgers will consider resting Shohei Ohtani and a potential pitching shutdown for the rest of the season, manager Dave Roberts told reporters.

Roberts made the comments Wednesday in Los Angeles, where the Dodgers lost 8-6 to the St. Louis Cardinals. Ohtani went 0 for 4, with four strikeouts, and showed signs of discomfort by shaking his right arm and wincing.

“You could see the swing wasn’t the swing that we’re used to seeing,” Roberts said. “He’s not close to optimal.”

The four strikeout game was Ohtani’s first of the season. He had just two four-strikeout games from 2023 through 2025. Roberts called Ohtani’s Wednesday showing “the tip of the iceberg,” adding he observed similar struggles over the last “couple of weeks.”

Roberts said he plans to speak with Ohtani and the Dodgers training staff Thursday to gauge his physical status. The parties also will consider rest time for the four-time MVP.

“Is a day or two, or I mean, shoot, even 10 days, is that going to help get him to be 100%? I don’t know the answer,” Roberts said. “But I think where we’re at, I think he’s just going to have to find a way to make do and do the best he can.

“But what can I do? Have the conversation. Get him off his feet. Kind of try to get some strength back. Get him feeling better, and then run him out there.”

The Dodgers’ manager was noncommittal about the possibility of moving the Japanese baseball star to the injured list.

“It won’t be an IL, unless it is,” Roberts said. “It’s very unlikely. But I do think I’m going to have a conversation and I’ll decide, we’ll decide, after I talk to him.”

Roberts said Ohtani does not want to take any days off and he respects that choice, but it really is “not helping anyone” if he continues to struggle due to his injury issues.

Ohtani hit .279, with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs through 129 games this season. He went just 2 for 23 (.087), with no extra base hits or RBIs and 11 strikeouts, over his last six appearances.

Ohtani, who also is dealing with knee issues, hit .305, with 13 home runs, 40 RBIs and 67 strikeouts through his first 67 games this season. He hit .254, with 17 home runs, 40 RBIs and 75 strikeouts in 66 games since then.

Roberts told reporters before Wednesday’s game that a season-ending shutdown of Ohtani, who hasn’t pitched since July 3, is also on the table. He said there is “no timeline” or “definitive deadline” for that decision.

“It is an option,” Roberts said of a pitching shutdown of Ohtani. “We’re not there quite yet, but it’s certainly an option.”

Ohtani restarted a throwing program Aug. 8.

“For me, he’s gotta throw a bullpen, then we will see the next progression,” Roberts said. “I certainly know the value of him pitching. But if you’re not 100%, there is possibility some bleed in to the performance offensively.

“That’s just me kind of theorizing. It’s his decision, honestly, if he feels like he’s capable, we’ll run the play out until it doesn’t make any sense.”

The Dodgers (82-57) have the third-best record in the National League and remain atop the National League West, with a nine-game lead on the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks (74-67). They are 4-6 over their last 10 games, including losses in three of their last four contests.

“We’re in September, but I still feel like there are enough days left on the calendar of the season that we have plenty of time to make whatever decision we make and have him come out of it in a better spot,” Roberts said.

The Dodgers will look to avoid a sweep by the Cardinals in the series finale at 10:10 p.m. EDT Thursday in Los Angeles. The series is part of a nine-game home stand. The Dodgers will follow that stretch with a span of seven road games before returning for their final home stand of the regular season.