Shohei Ohtani has missed 3 consecutive games. Dodgers head coach: He will decide whether to enter the disabled list as soon as tomorrow.

Shohei Ohtani. (File photo)

[Sports Center/Comprehensive Report] Dodger Japan's second-string star Shohei Ohtani has hit a slump recently and is suffering from injuries. Today, he has been exempted from three consecutive games. It is also the first time he has missed three consecutive games after joining the Dodgers. Head coach Dave Roberts admitted in an interview today that a decision may be made as soon as tomorrow on whether to put Ohtani on the disabled list.

Robles said that Ohtani will conduct hitting training in the hitting cage today, and his subsequent physical condition will be the basis for judging whether he can play tomorrow. "Of course, we still retain the possibility of him playing today. But we still need to discuss more about tomorrow's game."

According to major league rules, a player can be placed on the disabled list retroactively to the number of days he has been absent in the past, but it can only be up to 3 days. Ohtani will be absent from the 4th Taiwan time. If he is to be placed on the disabled list and let him return in the shortest possible time, a decision must be made tomorrow. In this regard, Roberts admitted frankly that if Ohtani's condition does not improve tomorrow, perhaps being on the injured reserve will become a more realistic option. "But it may not necessarily be like that. As I said a few days ago, there is another idea. Instead of letting him go on the injured reserve for 10 days, it is better to just let him rest for 6 to 8 days. As long as his condition develops in a good direction, this is also a possibility."

However, as Ohtani is a second-string player, if he is placed on the disabled list, it will be 15 days for pitchers, not 10 days for fielders. In this regard, Robles said that it does make sense if he can avoid being sidelined for 15 days at a time; he also emphasized that the most important thing is Otani's health. "I feel that he has improved a lot. I gradually learned one thing about Xianghei, that is, when his physical condition is not good, he will become more taciturn and become a different person than usual. But in the past two days, I feel that he has been quite relaxed and has gradually returned to his natural state."

In addition, the Dodgers' starting lineup also experienced changes today. Star third baseman Max Muncy was ill and catcher Dalton Rushing suffered from right elbow soreness. Both of them were temporarily removed from the starting lineup.