Shohei Ohtani Looks Off as Dodgers Consider Giving Him Rest

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is going through a slump while also nursing left knee and bicep issues, leaving his hitting somewhat compromised at this point, Dave Roberts shared.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Ohtani went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts and a walk in Wednesday, Sept. 2nd’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Dave Roberts said he is going to talk with Shohei Ohtani tomorrow about how the superstar feels after a night of brutal whiffs.

He went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts and a walk.

Ohtani just does not seem right. pic.twitter.com/7ox2Ao7frY

— Nelson Espinal (@nelson__espinal) September 3, 2026Shohei Ohtani’s strugglesIf this was just a one-off, the Dodgers could likely chalk it up to a long season, but it is part of a continuing trend. Since August 18th, he’s 7-for-51 with 20 strikeouts, and his at-bats don’t look totally competitive.

class="wp-block-paragraph">On Wednesday, he looked to be wincing a bit after some at-bats, and the slugger, who can tend to chase a bit, just looked totally uncomfortable at the plate.

Sep 1, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) scores a run during the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesAfter the game, the media, including Dodgers Nation, asked Roberts about Ohtani’s viability going forward with the injuries and struggles.

class="wp-block-paragraph">The skipper seemed confident it wasn’t going to be an IL issue, but rather about possibly giving him some rest to reset or just get off his feet to recover.

What is the plan for the Dodgers and Shohei OhtaniRoberts will talk to Ohtani on Thursday and with the trainers to see how they can handle his slump and knee issue and get him back on track at the plate.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“How to balance it, is knowing that we still have a full month of baseball and what is the best way to get him ready for the postseason,” Roberts said to DN.

Aug 29, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) watches from the dugout in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn ImagesRoberts refused to put the onus or reasoning behind Ohtani’s struggles on anything other than his body and what he feels physically.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“He’s as strong mentally as a player as I’ve ever been around,” Roberts said of Ohtani.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Ohtani looks like he is really guessing on the pitches coming, and he can’t get his swing extended enough to reach the pitches he tends to.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Discomfort could totally play a role, but there is something to a more refined approach at the plate and displaying better readiness to pitches.

class="wp-block-paragraph">“I saw the same thing that everyone saw. … Clearly the swings aren’t who he is,” Roberts added.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Ohtani tends to somewhat guess what pitches are coming, as any hitter does against modern pitching.

class="wp-block-paragraph">However, without the swing working in conjunction well, things can look really off.