The Los Angeles Dodgers notched their 27th comeback win of the season on Friday night thanks to a grand slam from Teoscar Hernández.
The Dodgers fell into a 3-0 deficit partly due to Shohei Ohtani not being particularly sharp in his 14th pitching start of the year. Ohtani nonetheless managed to get through six innings and finished with nine strikeouts despite the three runs on seven hits.
His night not only ended before nine innings on the mound but also as the Dodgers’ designated hitter. Miguel Rojas pinch-hit for Ohtani shortly after the Dodgers took their lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Shohei Ohtani injured?
Following the Dodgers’ 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres, Ohtani revealed his early exit was out of precaution but due to feeling an issue with his right bicep.
“More precautionary reason. I was a little concerned with my bicep from the last at-bat,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton.
Ohtani specified the discomfort emerged during his final at-bat of the game, which came in the fourth inning. He flied out to deep left field against Michael King. Ohtani added the trouble was only felt while swinging.
It’s also not the first time this season the two-way superstar has experienced discomfort in his biceps. Ohtani said it surfaced two months ago and resolved itself nearly immediately.
“It went away pretty quickly, so I expect that to happen again,” Ohtani said.
Ohtani believes he is capable of being in the lineup for the Fourth of July game at Dodger Stadium, but would ultimately leave that decision up to manager Dave Roberts and the Dodgers training staff.
“I can always play and my desire is to always play. I feel good enough to be able to do so,” Ohtani said.
Shortly after his remarks, Roberts said Ohtani was not going to be in the lineup on Saturday.
Managing Ohtani’s workload has been at the forefront of the organization’s mind throughout the year, and was one of the factors behind pushing his start back from the series finale against the Athletics to Friday.
Ohtani already has been navigating a blister on the middle finger of his right hand and left knee inflammation for the better part of the past month.
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