Shohei Ohtani appeared visibly uncomfortable during his final at-bat on Wednesday, swinging through a pitch with a noticeable lack of lower-half support before shaking his right arm in the dugout. The Los Angeles Dodgers responded by holding him out of Thursday's lineup, marking his first absence since July 30. Manager Dave Roberts described the moment as 'the tip of the iceberg,' suggesting deeper concerns about how Ohtani's ongoing physical issues may be affecting his offensive performance.

Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 and has not thrown off a mound in seven days after a bullpen session was cut short due to lingering soreness in his left knee and right bicep. With the postseason less than a month away, the Dodgers face a critical decision about his two-way role. While his value on the mound remains significant, the team's offensive struggles since July — ranking 22nd in OPS (.703) and 23rd in runs per game (4.2) — make his hitting contributions essential.

Roberts emphasized that Ohtani's offensive value is 'hugely important' and cannot be compromised. The Dodgers' rotation, featuring Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow, provides strong alternatives if they decide to shut down Ohtani as a pitcher. However, determining whether pitching impacts his hitting remains a complex debate as they approach October.