ANAHEIM — The Dodgers may have stumbled upon a way to keep Shohei Ohtani performing well on the mound and at the plate this season.
Ohtani seems to be benefiting from scheduled days off at the plate. He is 3 for 8 this series against the Angels with two doubles, a triple, five RBIs and three walks after not recording a plate appearance on Wednesday or Thursday.
Ohtani’s strong offensive performances after off days may be becoming a trend this season. He went 2 for 5 with a double on April 17 against the Rockies after two days off.
Ohtani walked three times and stole a base against the Marlins after a day off on April 28 and went 2 for 4 with a double, a stolen base and a RBI against the Astros on May 6 after an off day.
“I think it’s been a big benefit,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think he’s happier, feeling better and obviously no one knows how it’s going to play out on the field, but I felt just seeing him that the results would be better this series.”
Roberts said Ohtani wasn’t dealing with an injury, but fatigue may have been taking a toll on Ohtani with the added workload of pitching and hitting full-time this season.
“I think it was fatigue,” Roberts said. “Fatigue potentially leads to injury, so getting ahead of the fatigue piece of it, I think is really important.”
In Ohtani’s last three starts on the mound, he did not hit and it yielded excellent results. Ohtani had a 1.35 ERA in those three starts with 25 strikeouts in 20 innings.
That trend may be changing, though, in Ohtani’s next start against the Padres on Wednesday. Roberts said it is undecided whether Ohtani will bat in that game, but he thinks he likely will with an off day on Thursday.
Ohtani was originally scheduled to pitch on Tuesday, but changed spots in the rotation with Emmet Sheehan so that Ohtani can have an off day the day after he pitches.
SHUFFLING THE DECK
The Dodgers made a couple of roster moves regarding the bullpen prior to the game Sunday. Reliever Jack Dreyer was placed on the 15-day IL with left shoulder discomfort after feeling some soreness while warming up in the bullpen during the game Saturday.
Dreyer had a scan done on Sunday and there was no structural damage. Roberts said Dreyer had some inflammation and the team hopes he will return after the 15 days on the IL are up.
The Dodgers recalled Paul Gervase to replace Dreyer. Gervase was optioned on May 10 after allowing one run in three innings against the Braves.
Reliever Charlie Barnes was optioned after pitching both of the first two games against the Angels. Chayce McDermott was recalled after being in Anaheim on the taxi squad Saturday.
McDermott was required in a minor league trade with the Orioles this season after the Orioles designated him for assignment.
NEW ADDITION
The Dodgers acquired left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer from the Blue Jays in a trade for cash considerations.
Lauer was designated for assignment on May 11 and seemingly had some tension with Manager John Schneider regarding his role.
Lauer, 30, was 1-5 with a 6.69 ERA for the Blue Jays this season. He made six starts and was the long man following an opener the other two games he appeared in.
He voiced his displeasure in following an opener during a postgame media scrum after allowing six runs in five innings of relief against the Angels last Sunday. Brusdar Graterol was moved to the 60-day IL to make room for Lauer on the 40-man roster.
PADRES ON DECK
The Dodgers will head to San Diego to play their first series this season against the Padres, who have been neck-and-neck atop the division standings.
The Padres were a half game behind the Dodgers for first place heading into Sunday and the Dodgers went 9-4 against the Padres in 2025.
Roberts said he enjoys the competitive nature the series has had in recent years.
“I think we bring out the best of them and they bring out the best of us,” Roberts said. “I think it’s good for us. I think it’s good for baseball in Southern California.”
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 3-3, 3.60 ERA) at Padres (TBD), Monday, 6:40 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM