Dave Roberts of the Dodgers addressed concerns over Shohei Ohtani's recent offensive slump following a win against the Cubs. The Dodgers' victory may signal a turnaround for Ohtani's performance.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 03: Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during batting practice prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Friday, April 3, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs in shutout fashion on Sunday, salvaging just one series of their last three as they enjoyed a bounceback performance from their franchise player.
With some concerns growing around an offensive slump for Shohei Ohtani, Sundayâs turnaround might have been the performance he needed to break out of it.
âThe most positive offensive signs came from Ohtani,â The Orange County Registerâs Bill Plunkett wrote of Sundayâs game. âHe was on base four times in the game with a walk, a single, a double (his first extra-base hit in six games) and a solo home run (his first home run since April 12).â
Dave Roberts sent a message addressing the concerns surrounding Shohei Ohtani's recent offensive slump.
The Dodgers achieved a shutout victory against the Cubs, salvaging one series out of their last three.
Concerns have been growing about Shohei Ohtani's offensive slump, which the recent game may help alleviate.
The Dodgers' victory may have provided Shohei Ohtani with the momentum needed to break out of his offensive slump.
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Though Ohtani has been one of the sportâs best pitchers in his first season back to full health at the mound in some time, with a 0.38 ERA in his first four starts for the Dodgers, his hitting has been uncharacteristically pedestrian.
Ohtani has a .240/.371/.430 slash line so far this season, well below his career averages, and perhaps most notable is his 31 strikeouts so far compared to just 24 hits. Going into Sundayâs game he was in a pronounced drought that saw him strike out 11 times in the teamâs previous seven games, five of which were losses.
âIf Shohei Ohtani continues playing like this, he will establish another historic benchmark,â Dylan Hernandez wrote for the New York Post. âTwo years after becoming the founding member of the 50-50 club, Ohtani has a chance to produce baseballâs first 200-200 season: 200 strikeouts as a pitcher and 200 strikeouts as a hitter.â
But even if Ohtani has been playing below his own standards as a slugger, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it clear he wouldnât be moving him out of the leadoff spot of the batting order.
âI think you also have to look at the alternative,â Roberts said in response to that possibility, per Hernandez. âWho else would you put up there?â
Even with some hot hitters like Andy Pages and Dalton Rushing emerging for the team as Ohtani slumps, a change at the very top of the order would be hard to imagine. Ultimately, Roberts feels the team is better off waiting on Ohtani, even as concerns about his offense are growing.
âI think, for me, Iâm just gonna keep betting on Shohei and kind of figure some things out,â Roberts added, according to Roberts.
Roberts was rewarded for that patience on Sunday and Ohtani could all but eliminate concerns about his prolonged strikeout stretch with another strong performance on Monday against the Miami Marlins, a team he has dominated in the past.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com