Dodgers’ Dave Roberts provides encouraging Shohei Ohtani upgrade before Padres

The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Shohei Ohtani to the mound on Wednesday versus the Rockies, but the getaway was far from ideal. Ohtani lasted just 4 innings, falling short of the arranged five. His stat line was uncommonly rough– numbers he hasn’t posted against him in quite some time.Ohtani gave up 5 made runs and 9 hits versus the Rockies. It’s connected for the most runs he’s enabled because July 2022, while the 9 hits matched a profession high, per ESPN.Ohtani was also hurt throughout the game after taking a comebacker off the bat of Rockies’ Orlando Arcia. Though he was pulled from the mound in the 4th inning, he remained in the game as the designated hitter. However, he was gotten rid of in the fifth.

“When done on the mound, he remained in the game as L.A.’s designated player and walked in the 5th, however the Dodgers pinch struck Alex Call for Ohtani in his following at-bat. There’s currently no word on whether the late removal is due to a potential injury to his leg following the comebacker from Arcia,” SI’s Blake Silverman wrote.Although Ohtani

was hurt on Wednesday, the timing might have exercised, as both he and supervisor Dave Roberts had actually already prepared for him to rest on Thursday. It remained unclear whether the injury would rollover into the upcoming series versus the Padres, but the expectation is that Ohtani will be ready to play this weekend. “Dodgers Dave Roberts said he told Shohei Ohtani to oversleep today– suggestions Ohtani does not need to hear two times– and report to the park late. Expects him to be back in lineup Friday in SD, “Dodgers writer Costs Plunkett wrote.Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp This is welcome news for the

Dodgers, as their weekend series against

the Padres once again brings first-place ramifications. The Dodgers swept San Diego last week, but it will not be an easy task to repeat. With Ohtani likely returning, they’ll at least get a much-needed boost.