LOS ANGELES - Shohei Ohtani was not in the Los Angeles Dodgers' starting lineup for the first time in 31 games Thursday as manager Dave Roberts revealed the two-way star was dealing with multiple health concerns.
Ohtani went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's 8-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, striking out four times for the first time this year, and the skipper said the four-time MVP had issues moving his neck and his right biceps, which has been troubling him for some time.
"It's just kind of a day-to-day situation and I think we all saw last night he needed a day (to rest)," Roberts said.
"You see him kind of laboring and not feeling close to where he needs to be, and certainly last night was a tipping point."
Ohtani has gone hitless in four of his last six games and Roberts said it was "unlikely" for the player to be placed on the injured list, but "not impossible."
