Full Breakdown
Dodgers Opt to Rest Shohei Ohtani’s Bat in Tuesday’s Pitch-Only Start vs. Marlins
4/29/2026, 12:03:58 PM
Pitch-Only Decision in the Marlins Game
Shohei Ohtani started for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, and threw six innings on five days’ rest. He delivered 104 pitches, recorded nine strikeouts, and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks. The Dodgers were held to one run and lost 2–1 to the Miami Marlins. Ohtani did not appear in the batting order; backup catcher Dalton Rushing served as designated hitter and leadoff man.
Background: Managing a Two-Way Star
The Dodgers have used Ohtani as both pitcher and designated hitter since acquiring him. The first pitch-only appearance this season occurred on April 15, 2026, against the New York Mets after Ohtani was struck on the right shoulder. The current decision follows a pattern of giving Ohtani extra rest between starts—five days instead of his usual six or seven—to preserve his health in a full-time two-way role.
Key Figures
- Shohei Ohtani – 31-year-old two-way MVP, right-handed pitcher, occasional DH.
- Dave Roberts – Dodgers manager, architect of the pitch-only plan.
- Dalton Rushing – Backup catcher, assumed DH duties on Tuesday.
- Janson Junk – Right-handed Marlins starter who threw six scoreless innings.
- Will Smith – Dodgers catcher, contributed three hits and an RBI.
- Kyle Tucker – Dodgers right fielder, hit the walk-off single in Monday’s game.
Data & Statistics
- Ohtani’s ERA before the game: 0.38 (four starts, 24 innings). After Tuesday: 0.60 (five starts, 30 innings).
- Pitch count: 104 pitches, the most in a Dodgers start since July 2023.
- Strikeouts: 9 (one shy of his season high).
- Dodgers’ record after loss: 20-10.
- Marlins pitcher Junk: 6 IP, 4 K, 1 BB, 0 ER.
- Dodgers offense: 7 hits, 1 run, 0-4 with runners in scoring position.
Why It Matters
Removing Ohtani’s bat eliminates the team’s most dangerous hitter on days he pitches, potentially reducing run production. The move reflects the Dodgers’ long-term goal of keeping Ohtani healthy for a postseason run, while also testing the depth of the lineup, exemplified by Rushing’s .385/.467/.974 slash line in limited action.
Official Statements & Responses
Roberts explained that the five-day rest and Tuesday’s early start required a “compromise and some openness to read and react.” He described the pitch-only approach as “a win for his mind and body” and emphasized that it is not intended to become routine. Ohtani said he will “respect the decision” and highlighted the importance of ending the season with the team healthy, noting that his performance “wasn’t that great” and that the outing was “a plus or a minus” for the team.
Criticism & Opposition
Roberts later admitted the Dodgers “should have won the game” despite Ohtani’s absence and called the night “not good at all tonight situationally.” Analysts and fans pointed to the loss as evidence that the pitch-only strategy can cost the team victories when the offense stalls.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Ohtani’s ERA after the game (0.38 vs. 0.60) and on whether this was his second pitch-only start of the season or the second in three weeks. No detailed medical rationale for the five-day rest was provided beyond scheduling considerations.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Stuff-wise, it wasn’t that great,” — Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers pitcher (via translator)
- “I wasn’t happy with how the runs scored, too.” — Shohei Ohtani
- “Even without him in the lineup, we should have won the game,” — Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager
- “His goal is to make every start, and so with that, there has to be some compromise and some openness to kind of read and react,” — Dave Roberts
- “I'm always going to respect the decision regardless whether I'm pitching or doing both,” — Shohei Ohtani
- “He is not gonna hit tomorrow,” — Dave Roberts
What’s Next
The Dodgers close the series on Wednesday with a noon start by Tyler Glasnow against Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara. Ohtani is slated to return to the lineup as designated hitter for the rubber-match, giving the team a chance to assess the impact of his brief offensive hiatus.
