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Why Shohei Ohtani isn't hitting as Dodgers' DH tonight vs. Mets
TL;DR
Shohei Ohtani is not hitting as the Dodgers' designated hitter against the Mets, a departure from his usual role. Instead, he is starting on the pitching mound, leaving fans curious about the lineup change.
Why Shohei Ohtani isn't hitting as Dodgers' DH tonight vs. Mets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It's highly unusual.
The Los Angeles Dodgers pretty much always have Shohei Ohtani leading off in their batting order. Not on Wednesday night against the New York Mets, though.
Ohtani started on the pitching mound for the Dodgers. But he isn't in the lineup at all.
It's different, and fans all wondered why.
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Why isn't Shohei Ohtani hitting tonight?
Ohtani isn't hitting on Wednesday due to a hit by pitch on Monday.
He took a pitch to his right shoulder, which is the front arm when he's batting left-handed, and also the arm he pitches with.
Manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Ohtani is "feeling much better," but they decided to be cautious.
“If it weren’t for the hit-by-pitch, he would have been DH and pitching tonight,” Roberts said before the game. “This one game, it just makes the most sense to give us the best chance to manage the shoulder and back.”
This does allow Ohtani the rare chance to focus on just pitching in a game. He's used to doing his two-way routine.
The Dodgers don't expect this to remain the structure going forward. It was just one chance for them to play it a bit safe with their generational superstar.
More MLB news:
Q&A
Why is Shohei Ohtani not hitting for the Dodgers against the Mets?
Shohei Ohtani is not hitting because he is starting on the pitching mound for the Dodgers in that game.
What position is Shohei Ohtani playing in the game against the Mets?
In the game against the Mets, Shohei Ohtani is playing as a pitcher.
How often does Shohei Ohtani not hit for the Dodgers?
It is highly unusual for Shohei Ohtani not to hit, as he typically leads off in the batting order for the Dodgers.
