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The Los Angeles Dodgers are unleashing their two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani Wednesday night after several games of leaving him out of the batting order on days he pitches.
Manager Dave Roberts had been considering having Ohtani return to hitting on days he pitches and, after the Dodgers’ electric 5-4 win over the San Diego Padres, he confirmed Ohtani will indeed be pulling double duty, as reported by Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
Why wasn’t Shohei Ohtani hitting and pitching in the same game?
Ohtani, who has been absolutely stellar on the mound this season, was performing below his usual standards at the plate.
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May 13, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Even teammates like Mookie Betts acknowledged Ohtani’s hitting wasn’t quite where it has historically been.
Roberts had recently decided to have Ohtani only pitch, not hit, in several games, though now that Ohtani has had an offensive resurgence in May — including a pair of doubles Tuesday night — it appears that slump has come to an end.
Ohtani now will get another chance to show what he can do while pitching and hitting in the same game, an opportunity Dylan Hernandez of the California Post said could determine how much he is allowed to continue to do so.
“If Ohtani wants to make the case that his pitching and hitting don’t affect each other, here’s an opportunity to present compelling evidence,” Hernandez wrote. “He just has to hit.”
How has Shohei Ohtani been hitting recently?
Ohtani couldn’t ask for better momentum at the plate coming into this start on the mound.
He has four straight multi-hit games, including a triple, three doubles and eight RBIs in that span.
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May 19, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a single during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
He hasn’t been held hitless since May 11 against the San Francisco Giants, and he followed up that disappointment by going 2-for-5 with a home run.
If Ohtani can continue this level of performance at the plate, he’ll be looking for his seventh straight game with a hit Wednesday night.
Do you think Ohtani can regularly hit and pitch on the same night?
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