Ohtani misses fourth straight start for Dodgers
In Los Angeles, United States, Shohei Ohtani was not included in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting lineup for the game against the Washington Nationals. As The Japan Times reports, it was the fourth consecutive game he missed as a starter due to issues with his right biceps, left knee and neck.
Possible return
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game that Ohtani’s condition is improving. According to him, if recovery continues without changes, the player could return to the field as early as Monday in the game against the Cincinnati Reds.
The club has still not placed Ohtani on the 15-day injured list, which is mandatory for players who combine the roles of pitcher and hitter. Roberts noted on Saturday that if he continues to miss games, such an option will become more likely.
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Season statistics
Ohtani has not played since Wednesday, when he recorded no hits in four at-bats and struck out four times in the game against the St. Louis Cardinals. In his last six games, he has recorded two hits in 23 at-bats and struck out 11 times.
In 133 games this season, the 32-year-old Ohtani has a .279 batting average, 30 home runs and 80 RBIs. He hit his last home run on August 18. In the first half of the season, Ohtani was also among the contenders for the National League Cy Young Award: in 14 starts, he earned eight wins against two losses with a 1.79 ERA while pitching in a six-pitcher rotation.
