Ohtani's 0.60 ERA Meets Houston Tonight, but He Won't Swing a Bat

Shohei Ohtani takes the mound at Daikin Park on Tuesday night against the Astros, and he's bringing elite stuff. The guy is sitting on a 0.60 ERA through 30 innings this season after tossing six innings against Miami last week with nine strikeouts. He just won National League Pitcher of the Month for April, the first time in his career he's grabbed that honor. But here's the thing: despite earlier plans to have him DH, manager Dave Roberts pulled the plug on that idea after Monday's game. Ohtani is pitching only, and won't be stepping into the box.

Body Language Made Roberts' Call

Roberts wasn't cryptic about it. "Tomorrow, he is just going to pitch," the skipper said postgame. "I just decided that by just kind of watching him and his body language, just giving him the opportunity to focus on the pitching and rest his body. I think it's best for him." This marks the second straight start and third this season where Ohtani will focus solely on pitching. The toll of the dual-role workload is real, and Roberts sees it. The Dodgers opened this Houston series with Yoshinobu Yamamoto getting an 8-3 win on Monday, so the pitching carousel keeps rolling.

Ohtani's Timing Couldn't Be Better

The timing works in the Dodgers' favor. Houston's lineup ranks near the top of the American League in OPS, but their pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries. Meanwhile, LA's offense finally woke up Monday night after what Roberts called "an offensive funk." Ohtani, who is currently 0-for-17 at the plate, took some on-field batting practice Monday afternoon, a switch from his usual cage routine. Roberts was encouraged by that. "I think it's a good thing," he said, noting that seeing the flight of the ball usually helps hitters reset mechanically. Still, Roberts views the DH question as fluid: "I think regardless, it's still a big toll. We've certainly enjoyed the fruits of him doing both jobs, which he will continue to at times." The Dodgers need Ohtani to eat innings and keep the bullpen fresh, which has been working harder than ideal lately. If the Astros' lineup stays productive and Houston's pitching stays thin, Tuesday night could be exactly what the Dodgers need.

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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.