Shohei Ohtani on the injured list? Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says it’s “unlikely,” but the numbers coming from Ohtani’s bat since his last bullpen session on August 14th are brutal. His slash line is a rough .194/.316/.403, and his OPS has taken a hit, dropping from a dominant .935 to .906 in that stretch. You saw it Wednesday, too: a physically uncomfortable looking four-strikeout game before he finally got Thursday off. With the postseason less than a month away, Los Angeles has to be mulling over every option, even if it’s giving their superstar an extended rest.
The “Not Thrilling, But Available” DH Option
The good news is, the Dodgers actually have some alternatives if Ohtani needs that time off. Nobody’s replacing a healthy Ohtani in the lineup or on the mound, let’s be real, but the task at hand is just to be an improvement on an ailing Ohtani. Alex Call, for instance, filled in as DH on Thursday. He’s been around, appearing in 74 games this season, mostly subbing in, with 166 plate appearances. His batting line is a below-average .252/.361/.324, but his .685 OPS isn’t exactly miles off what an injured Ohtani has managed recently. Plus, his defensive limitations are hidden at DH. Call’s already on the roster, and with Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernández, and Kyle Tucker holding down the outfield, he’s available for DH duty whenever they’re all in. The kicker? Call is way better against left-handed pitching, batting .265/.347/.413 against southpaws for his career, compared to just .231/.343/.334 against right-handers. Everyday play might not be his strong suit.
Rushing Back for DH Duties
Then there’s Dalton Rushing. He was the Dodgers’ primary catcher for a good chunk of the summer after Will Smith went on the IL. Rushing then got hit with his own injury, a partial tear in his right elbow’s UCL, putting him on the shelf. Now, with rosters expanded, he’s back, but in a limited role. We’re talking pinch-hitting and DH only, no time behind the plate. Rushing is a left-handed batter, which is key, because he absolutely mashes right-handers. He’s hitting .261/.344/.509 with 11 of his 12 homers against them this year. That said, his OPS against lefties is a measly .568.
The Platoon Play for Postseason Prep
Here’s where it gets interesting: the Dodgers could actually platoon Call and Rushing to manage both their skills and Rushing’s return. Rushing could handle the bulk of at-bats against right-handers, while Call focuses on lefties. That strategy would work out well for both players, minimizing the burden on Rushing as he works his way back to catching. The goal here isn’t to find an Ohtani clone. It’s to make sure the absolute best possible version of Shohei Ohtani is ready to unleash come postseason time, by giving him the rest his ailing knee and biceps clearly need. The clock is ticking with the postseason just weeks away, and getting him healthy is the top priority.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
Leave a Reply