MLB: Ohtani in a Slump! Dodgers Manager Points to Hitting Mechanism Issues

Shohei Ohtani, the crown jewel of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is navigating a challenging stretch at the plate. The Japanese superstar has gone hitless in his last four games, a span covering 14 at-bats, leading to a dip in his batting average to .246. While the Dodgers secured a 4-1 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, snapping a four-game losing streak, Ohtani's offensive struggles were a notable subplot.

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He has high standards for himself, and we do too, and I know he's frustrated, but you can't tell from his demeanor.

Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the slump, stating, "He has high standards for himself, and we do too, and I know he's frustrated, but you can't tell from his demeanor." Roberts pointed to Ohtani's own admission of "some mechanical issues" at the plate, noting that while adjustments were thought to be made at home, his performance in the current series suggests otherwise. "He's kind of stuck in the middle," Roberts observed, referring to Ohtani's ground balls hit to the deepest part of the field and fly balls hit in the same direction.

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He has mentioned some mechanical issues, and we thought we had it adjusted at home. But in this series, I don't think he's felt that good. Some of his ground balls are hit to the deepest part of the field, and his fly balls are hit in the same direction. So, he's kind of stuck in the middle.

Despite the current difficulties, Roberts remains optimistic. "I think it's fair to say and believe that he'll get out of it very soon," he said. The Dodgers as a team have also been in a power drought, failing to hit a home run in their last six games, their longest such streak since 2014. First baseman Freddie Freeman, who contributed two hits and an RBI in Sunday's win, admitted the team's offense has been subpar, emphasizing the need for improvement.

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I think it's fair to say and believe that he'll get out of it very soon.