Shohei Ohtani is making his pitching start Wednesday night against the New York Mets but he is not in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup as their designated hitter.
That instead is being filled by Dalton Rushing, in his first career start as the Dodgers’ DH. Kyle Tucker, fresh off his game-winning hit, is in the leadoff spot.
Last season the Dodgers utilized Ohtani, Kiké Hernández, Eddie Rosario, Austin Barnes, Alex Call, Rushing and Will Smith in the designated hitter spot. Though the majority of those were as pinch-hitters given that Ohtani started 158 games in 2025.
Edman started back-to-back games at DH when Ohtani was on paternity leave last April, and a third time in the penultimate game of the 2025 regular season. Smith was the only other player to start at DH for the Dodgers last year, doing so once.
Wednesday marks the first time since May 28, 2021, that Ohtani is not also hitting during a pitching start. That game was prior to MLB implementing the two-way rule that now allows him to remain in a game after being removed as a pitcher.
Following Monday’s game, when Ohtani was hit by a pitch in the back of his right shoulder, Roberts said he remained on track to start in the series finale. Roberts reiterated that after Tuesday’s game, though technically only specified that Ohtani was going to start “as a starting pitcher.”
After the lineup was set without Ohtani, Roberts confirmed he would have been included if not for getting hit by the pitch.
“This one game, it just makes the most sense to give us the best chance to manage the shoulder and back,” Roberts said.
The Dodgers’ decision to give Ohtani a break from hitting is proof to comments made throughout Spring Training and into this season that they would monitor his workload. Including Wednesday’s game against the Mets, all three of Ohtani’s starts as a pitcher have come before an off day in the Dodgers’ schedule.
Moreover, Roberts did acknowledge he would consider moving Ohtani down in the lineup during games that he is also the starting pitcher.
Ohtani is batting .254/.402/.508 with one double, five home runs, 10 RBI and 14 walks. He remains a threat at the plate but is short of reaching expectations. Ohtani recently downplayed any concern and noted his current stats are in line with the month of April throughout his career.
And though the two-way star currently has a 47-game on-base streak, Ohtani is 0-for-7 with one strikeout and an intentional walk since getting hit by a 94 mph sinker.
Dodgers lineup without Shohei Ohtani
RF: Kyle Tucker
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
LF: Teoscar Hernández
3B: Max Muncy
CF: Andy Pages
DH: Dalton Rushing
SS: Hyeseong Kim
2B: Alex Freeland
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