The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ starting pitching is finally getting healthy, and they were fortunate to avoid a potentially catastrophic injury to NL MVP favorite Shohei Ohtani.
Amid his worst start since joining the Dodgers rotation in June, Ohtani took a line drive off the thigh and left the game after throwing just four innings in their 8-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies.
Ohtani picked up his first decision in 10 major-league starts, allowing five earned runs and nine hits and now has a 7.30 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in three starts in August.
The Dodgers have lost two of three in Denver and lead the second-place San Diego Padres by one game ahead of this weekend’s crucial series at Petco Park.
What Did The Dodgers Say About Shohei Ohtani’s Injury?
After giving up two runs in the bottom of the second inning, Ohtani allowed three more in the fourth, putting the Dodgers behind the 8-ball against the MLB-worst Rockies.
But Orlando Arcia’s 93.1mph line drive struck Ohtani on the thigh, which scored Mickey Moniak and sent Brenton Doyle to third base, making it 4-0.
Ohtani stayed in the game to finish the inning. Though Arcia scored on Tyler Freeman’s RBI single, the Dodgers and Ohtani were relieved to avoid any serious injury.
“I was just really relieved that it was the thigh, because it hit him flush,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game. “If you’re talking about the kneecap, that’s a different conversation. When I saw the ball mark on his thigh, I was very relieved, relative to the situation.”
“I’m glad it didn’t hit the knee,” Ohtani said through an interpreter, according to the Associated Press. “I think we avoided the worst-case scenario. So, I’m going to focus on the treatment.”
Ohtani finished 1 for 2 at the plate but left the game in the eighth inning, with the Dodgers trailing 6-1. Still, the Dodgers had Ohtani in their lineup for the series finale Thursday.
“It was getting stiff and there was some swelling in there,” Roberts said of why he removed Ohtani in the eighth. “I felt as the game was going to go on, it was going to stiffen up more.”
Ohtani now has a 4.61 ERA this season in his first pitching stints since 2023. The loss was his first since July 14, 2023, a span of 15 starts.
“I put the team in a bad spot,” Ohtani said. “It was just a very regrettable outing. I wish I could have done better.”
What’s Going On With The Dodgers?
The Dodgers retook first place by sweeping the Padres at home, but they are still battling consistency while they try to become the first team to repeat as World Series champs since the 1999-2000 New York Yankees.
This week in Colorado was a prime example, since despite their 10-game win streak entering play Monday, the Dodgers lost twice at Coors Field.
There are questions about LA’s pitching staff, outfield defense, whether Mookie Betts will switch positions and bullpen. The Dodgers are just 16-23 in their past 39 games and have lost eight games on their division lead.
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