Dave Roberts isn’t planning to use Shohei Ohtani in Thursday’s game in Denver. That was true, the manager said, before Ohtani was struck on the side of his right leg by a line drive on Wednesday in the fourth inning of the Dodgers’ 8-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies.
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When the Dodgers visit San Diego on Friday for the first of three games against their closest rivals in the National League West, Ohtani plans to be back in the starting lineup.
Shohei Ohtani was just hit by a 93.7 mph line drive square on the leg.
He was limping but is staying in the game as a pitcher for now.pic.twitter.com/J9Unl4xJ0d
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) August 21, 2025
“That’s my intention,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “I’m just making sure I get my treatment, and the goal is to make sure that I’m back to normal again.”
“Very regrettable, put the team in a bad spot, it was just a very regrettable outing that I wish I could have done better.”
Shohei Ohtani (L (0-1), 4.0 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 66 P; 1-2, BB) talks with the media after the #Dodgers lose to the Rockies 8-3 in Colorado. pic.twitter.com/T1ZfAXtyrj
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 21, 2025
Ohtani, who was diagnosed with a contusion, might need to re-evaluate his chances after 48 hours and a flight to Southern California.
At least initially, the outlook for Ohtani’s chances of playing Friday was optimistic.
“I’m pretty confident,” Roberts said. “I am. I’m confident.”
“This was baffling in the sense of, with the guys that we have that we’re running out there, just to see the inconsistencies… this is gonna be one we have to wash away.”
Dave Roberts addresses the media after the #Dodgers fall short in Colorado, losing 8-3 to the Rockies. pic.twitter.com/pVArhFW0vr
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 21, 2025
Arcia’s 93.7-mph liner was directed in an unfortunate place for Ohtani’s right leg. But it wasn’t the only hard-hit ball Ohtani allowed Wednesday. The Rockies had six even harder-hit balls against him over four-plus innings. Four resulted in hits.
The Rockies collected nine hits and five runs against Ohtani in all, before eventually winning their second game in the series. The Dodgers will try to earn a series split Thursday.
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Roberts had intended to use Ohtani for five innings but was forced to change his plans.
#Dodgers Dave Roberts on Shohei Ohtani pitching tonight: “I think tonight is going to be a hard stop at five innings. We’re also at altitude and we want to make sure his body responds the right way.”
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) August 20, 2025
The two-way star had not allowed five runs in a game since July 2023, when he did so in three consecutive starts for the Angels. The Rockies’ nine hits against Ohtani were the most by an opposing team since a September 2021 game between the Angels and the Houston Astros.
Ohtani isn’t the first pitcher to see his stats suffer at Coors Field, the most hitter-friendly ballpark in Major League Baseball, and he won’t be the last. He had a 3.47 ERA through his first nine starts of the season; now it’s up to 4.61.
In the short term, the Dodgers might be able to get by without Ohtani in their rotation. They will play seven games in seven days before their next off-day on Aug. 28. Roki Sasaki, who threw 3.1 innings (60 pitches) in a minor league rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, could in theory start one of those games if he’s cleared to end his rehab assignment.
More important than Ohtani’s arm is his bat — particularly this weekend as the Dodgers take on the Padres with first place in the division at stake. Ohtani leads the National League in runs scored (120), plate appearances (576), OPS (1.018) and slugging (.625).
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