Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (biceps) to sit Saturday vs. Padres

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani will not play Saturday night against the San Diego Padres because of tightness to his right biceps.

With the best record in MLB and a 14-game lead in the National League West, the Dodgers can afford to give their designated hitter/pitcher a chance to rest and recover.

Ohtani left Los Angeles' 4-3 win in the seventh inning after he reported that he felt the biceps tighten up after taking a swing an inning earlier.

He told reporters after the game that he was faced with a similar issue earlier in the season and that he healed "relatively quickly."

Manager Dave Roberts agreed.

"He's dealt with it before," Roberts said. "He's a quick healer and finds a way to get back. But I do think that for us to read and react and hear what his body is telling him is really important, given the toll it takes on his body to be a two-way player."

Ohtani was the starting pitcher against the Padres on Friday and, working on nine days' rest, threw a season-high 110 pitches. He gave up three runs on seven hits and two walks in six innings, striking out nine.

He was 0-for-3 at the plate.

On the season, Ohtani is batting .288 with 18 home runs and 50 runs driven in. As he pitcher, he has an 8-2 record and a 1.79 ERA. He has thrown 85 2/3 innings over 14 starts.