Ohtani to Pitch and Hit Tuesday, Rest Wednesday; Manager Calls Him a 'Supercar'

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is set to showcase his "two-way" talent on Tuesday, pitching and hitting in the team's away game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, manager Dave Roberts announced that Ohtani will not be in the starting lineup on Wednesday, though he might be available for pinch-hitting duties.

Ohtani has been exceptional on the mound this season, posting a 5-2 record with a mere 0.82 ERA over nine starts, accumulating 55 innings pitched with 61 strikeouts and a .147 batting average against. His performance has been a cornerstone of the Dodgers' success.

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I think tonight he gave us everything he had, both on the mound and at the plate. As a reward, we'll give him a full day off tomorrow.

Roberts described Ohtani's demanding schedule, emphasizing the significant mental and physical toll of playing both pitcher and hitter on the same day. "I think tonight he gave us everything he had, both on the mound and at the plate," Roberts said. "As a reward, we'll give him a full day off tomorrow."

The manager likened Ohtani's physical condition to a "top-of-the-line supercar," highlighting his precise tuning and extreme sensitivity to even minor physical changes. "He's very sensitive to changes in his body," Roberts explained. "If something feels a little off, the whole car doesn't feel right." This sensitivity necessitates meticulous management, especially during the Dodgers' current 10-game road trip, to prevent fatigue and potential injury.

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Shohei is like a top-of-the-line supercar, tuned very precisely, so if something feels a little off, the whole car doesn't feel right.