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Dodgers May Abandon Shohei Ohtani’s Pitching-Only Policy
TL;DR
Shohei Ohtani will return to both hitting and pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, ending the team's recent policy of having him sit out as designated hitter on his pitching days.
Key points
- Shohei Ohtani will return to hitting and pitching on Tuesday
- Dodgers had a pitching-only policy for Ohtani
- Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the change
Los Angeles DodgersShohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani has been taken out of the batting order on some days that he pitches for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will return to hitting and pitching on Tuesday.
The Dodgers had recently been experimenting with having their star sit out as designated hitter on days in which he pitches, but on Monday, manager Dave Roberts confirmed that won’t be the case.
“Dave Roberts confirmed that Shohei Ohtani will both hit and pitch tomorrow,” reports Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
May 3, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) looks on prior to a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images
Roberts hinted at making the move on Sunday, telling Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register that the decision to keep Ohtani out of the batter’s box was made due to the 13-day stretch between off days.
It was not related to the team’s slump, Roberts added.
“I think I do a good job of not really letting the moment, as far as what the team’s doing, influence the decision,” Roberts said. “It’s based on him.”
Is it a good idea for Shohei Ohtani to hit and pitch on the same day?
Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain and former Dodger Jerry Hairston recently addressed that very topic, with McKain noting that perhaps it should be determined on a game-by-game basis.
“You can’t have him go 20 or 30 starts without him hitting, because his bat is so valuable to the lineup … If they can find specific days and situations where it makes sense, I think you go for it,” McKain said.
Hairston said maybe one or two starts per month, Ohtani should take the day off from hitting and focus only on pitching.
“I think it’s all about communication,” he said. “Shohei needs to be able to communicate. He’s done a great job with manager Dave Roberts, pitching coach Mark Prior and the front office. I think it’s a conversation as the season goes along.”
When does Shohei Ohtani pitch next?
Ohtani is next set to start on the mound Tuesday against the Houston Astros, the middle of a three-game series.
He has a 2-1 record through five starts and an ERA of 0.60.
That game at Daikin Park in Houston is set for first pitch at 5:10 p.m. PT.
Do you think the Dodgers need Ohtani to pitch and hit on the same day?
Q&A
Why did the Dodgers implement a pitching-only policy for Shohei Ohtani?
The Dodgers experimented with a pitching-only policy to manage Ohtani's workload and reduce injury risk.
When will Shohei Ohtani return to hitting for the Dodgers?
Shohei Ohtani will return to hitting on Tuesday, as confirmed by manager Dave Roberts.
What did Dave Roberts say about Shohei Ohtani's role?
Dave Roberts confirmed that Ohtani will both hit and pitch in the upcoming game, reversing the previous policy.
