Dodgers May Abandon Shohei Ohtani’s Pitching-Only Policy
Is Shohei Ohtani better off hitting and pitching on the same day? Dave Roberts makes a major announcement ahead of the Dodgers' series against Houston.
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.