Shohei Ohtani hit by pitch possibly changing Dodgers' plan

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Colorado Rockies 15-6, but the win included injuries to Kiké Hernández and Shohei Ohtani. Hernández sustained a left oblique strain while hitting a double. Shortly afterward, Ohtani was hit by a pitch in the right wrist/hand area during the fourth inning, with the ball contacting protective padding and clipping his pinkie. Ohtani stayed in the game initially, then was pinch-hit for by Dalton Rushing in the fifth inning. The Dodgers had planned for Ohtani to pitch the night before an off day, but his injury introduces uncertainty about whether he will hit in the next game. Manager Dave Roberts indicated Ohtani is expected to start tomorrow while decisions about his hitting depend on how he feels physically.

"Ohtani was hit by a pitch in his right wrist/hand area during the fourth inning but initially remained in the game. Ironically, it came right after Hernádez suffered his oblique strain while hitting a double. A replay of Ohtani getting hit showed the 85.2 mph changeup from Kyle Freeland made contact with a lot of the protective padding on his right hand. Ohtani didn't show any signs of trouble while running the bases but was pinch-hit for by Dalton Rushing in the fifth inning."

"Last week the Dodgers made a slight adjustment with their starting rotation to push Ohtani back to facing the San Diego Padres in the series finale at Petco Park. That game was leading into an off day in the Dodgers' schedule, and the belief was that left Ohtani in the best position to carry out his two-way role. The domino effect has Ohtani lined up to again pitch the night before a Dodgers off day. Manager Dave Roberts reiterated on Tuesday that the plan was likely for Ohtani to again be in the lineup for his pitching start."

""Unless something changes tonight," Roberts said before the game. Ohtani getting hit by a pitch certainly fits that qualifier, and now it's not a certainty Ohtani will be in the lineup on Wednesday. "I think it got him on the pad, but clipped his pinkie a little bit," Roberts said. "But I think we're in a good spot. We had a good lead, get Dalton a couple at-bats and get Shohei off his feet to get ready for tomorrow's start. He is going to start tomorrow, I just haven't decided if he's going to hit.""

""I just want to make sure how he comes in, physically, how he feels. I want to make sure he feels really good on the pitching side of things.""

Read at Dodger Blue