\u201cThey\u2019ve executed well the past two games,\u201d Ohtani said. \u201cAt the same time, and this is including myself, I could have been a little more creative. In the at-bats we are going through, we should be able to score.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ohtani went hitless in four at-bats, striking out once. His on-base streak ended at 53 games, five shy of Duke Snider\u2019s franchise record.<\/p>\n
He is batting .258 with an .814 OPS. His career numbers: .281 with a .955 OPS.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as I feel good overall, then the result will follow. That hasn\u2019t been the case,\u201d Ohtani said. \u201cIt\u2019s not horrible, but it is something I have experienced in the past, April being kind of like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Shohei](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776943268_976_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Shohei Ohtani pitches against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
(David M. Barreda \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
Kyle Tucker, who bats second behind Ohtani, is hitless in eight at-bats this series with four strikeouts. He is batting .233 with a .676 OPS, the lowest among the Dodgers regulars.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s clearly just not comfortable,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cAnd he\u2019s frustrated, doing extra work with the hitting guys, but I don\u2019t right now have an answer. I think when he does get a pitch in his zone, whether it\u2019s not putting a good swing on it, or getting beat \u2014 yeah, I don\u2019t really have an answer for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the mound, Ohtani was brilliant, giving up five hits and walking none, striking out seven.<\/p>\n
Ohtani threw seven pitches at 100 mph, including the first pitch to the first batter he faced and the first pitch to the 23rd and last batter he faced.<\/p>\n
That came with two out and two on in the sixth inning, and immediately after the Giants got their only extra-base hit off Ohtani, a double by Rafael Devers.<\/p>\n
![\"Shohei](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776943269_728_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Shohei Ohtani reacts after he struck out Casey Schmitt of the Giants to end the sixth inning.<\/p>\n
(Ezra Shaw \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
On his final pitch, Ohtani struck out Casey Schmitt, then twirled off the mound, pumping his fist and letting out a yell of delight.<\/p>\n
Roberts said that inning taxed Ohtani to the point there was no consideration about sending him out for the seventh inning, at 91 pitches.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I had the lead,\u201d Ohtani said, \u201cthen I think I would have been able to pitch to contact and reduce the pitch count.\u201d<\/p>\n
That lack of offense fed into a renewed debate about whether Ohtani and his team might be better off if he did not hit on days he pitched.<\/p>\n
In his career, Ohtani is batting .185 as a pitcher, with three home runs in 65 at-bats, according to Baseball Reference.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, who could forget the three-home run, 10-strikeout show that Ohtani put on in the National League Championship Series clincher last October?<\/p>\n
Even if his batting performance on pitching days might not live up to his usual otherworldly standards, would you really submit a lineup with nine batters, but not the one who hit 55 home runs last year and 54 the year before?<\/p>\n
And, if not Ohtani, who would the Dodgers use as a designated hitter?<\/p>\n
For now, Dave Roberts said, the Dodgers have not had a conversation with Ohtani about whether he should pitch and hit in the same game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to continue to keep my eye on it,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cI think everything should be on the table. But again, you have to look at what\u2019s the alternative?<\/p>\n
Roberts said he understands the appeal of using the DH to give a position player a break from the field, the so-called \u201chalf-day off\u201d that could be particularly valuable on a team with the oldest collection of position players in the major leagues.<\/p>\n
He also could use backup catcher Dalton Rushing, who is batting .414 over nine games, with seven home runs in 29 at-bats. The only Dodger with more home runs: Max Muncy, with eight in 82 at-bats.<\/p>\n
\u201cDalton is swinging the bat well, but no one was saying that two weeks ago,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cHe\u2019s on a heater. He\u2019s swinging the bat well. Let\u2019s just keep monitoring it. I\u2019ll keep monitoring it and making decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ohtani said he would defer to Roberts but stopped short of endorsing the idea of restricting his hitting to days on which he does not pitch.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll always let the manager make that final decision, and I\u2019m always going to be prepared that, when I\u2019m starting, I\u2019m hitting. But, if it makes sense as a team to occasionally put a guy in as a DH or hit later [in the batting order,] that\u2019s fine as well,\u201d Ohtani said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t want to say more aside from that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rushing downplays incident with Jung Hoo Lee ![\"Jung](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776943269_987_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Jung Hoo Lee is tagged out at home by Dalton Rushing during the sixth inning Tuesday.<\/p>\n
(Godofredo A. V\u00e1squez \/ Associated Press)<\/p>\n