Full Breakdown
Dodgers Opt for One-Way Day: Shohei Ohtani to Pitch, Not Hit, Against Miami
4/28/2026, 12:09:06 PM
Decision Overview
The Los Angeles Dodgers confirmed that Shohei Ohtani will start on the mound Tuesday, April 28, versus the Miami Marlins but will not appear in the lineup as a designated hitter. Manager Dave Roberts said the five-day rest between starts and a Wednesday day game prompted the “one-way” plan.
Background & Context
Ohtani entered the series after a two-way slump that saw him go 3-for-23 with nine strikeouts from April 20-25, the longest homer-less stretch of his Dodgers tenure at 59 plate appearances. He broke the drought with a solo home run on Sunday, then recorded three hits and an RBI double in a 5-4 win over the Marlins. The decision follows a similar one-way day on April 15 after a hit-by-pitch injured his shoulder.
Data & Statistics
Pitching: 0.38 ERA, 1 ER in 24 IP, 25 K, 0.75 WHIP.
Hitting: .262/.391/.485 line, six homers, 12 RBI, .876 OPS (alternate source lists .240/.371/.430).
Home-run drought: 59 PA without a homer (vs. 11 games per another report).
Tyler Glasnow: 3-0, 2.45 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, 33 IP.
Official Statements & Responses
Roberts said the club is weighing how the schedule could affect Ohtani in the days following his start and wants him to stay focused on the game. Freeman praised Ohtani’s dominance on the mound, calling him a horse. Rojas noted that Ohtani’s dual responsibilities inevitably reduce his offensive bandwidth.
Criticism & Opposition
Cubs manager Craig Counsell called the MLB “Shohei Ohtani rule” “bizarre,” and Dodgers president Andrew Friedman described the criticism as “random and strange,” defending the rule’s value for the sport.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Ohtani’s batting line appears as .262/.391/.485 in some reports and .240/.371/.430 in others. His homer-less stretch is cited as 59 PA by one source and 11 games by another; no definitive plan for his future workload is disclosed.
Implications for the Dodgers
The one-way day seeks to safeguard Ohtani’s pitching dominance while limiting fatigue before a Wednesday day game and a forthcoming three-game series in St. Louis. Preserving his 0.38 ERA strengthens the rotation, a key factor in the club’s pursuit of a 110-win season.
Upcoming Schedule
Tuesday’s start is followed by Tyler Glasnow on Wednesday, then the Dodgers travel to St. Louis for a three-game series beginning Friday, April 30.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Hopefully he doesn’t put too much weight into it,” — Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager
- “I think you also have to look at the alternative,” — Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager
- “He is a horse on that mound right now,” — Freddie Freeman, Dodgers first baseman
