Shohei Ohtani ‘Trying To Swing Out Of’ Slump

Shohei Ohtani’s struggles at the plate continued in the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants on Monday night.

The two-way star went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts, extending his hitless streak to nine consecutive at-bats. He is now mired in a 4-for-38 (.105) slump over his last 10 games dating back to April 29.

“Yes, it is. It is,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts answered when asked if this is the most out of whack Ohtani has been. “I think even early on, when he wasn’t right, he was still taking walks and getting on base. But I think right now, and tonight was a classic example, I think he’s just trying to swing out of it.

“And so that’s just apparent. A lot of hitters, when they are scuffling, they want to kind of swing out of it. And so tonight was one of those nights.”

In addition to striking out twice against the Giants, Ohtani grounded out three times to the right side of the infield.

“I think just over-anxiousness,” Roberts said of Ohtani’s recent at-bats. “I really do. I think that today on the field, he was trying to work to the big part of the field. And I thought he had a good practice on the field.

“And I think seeing every single at-bat that he’s taken this year, it just seems like there’s a lot more balls to the pull side. A lot more balls on the right side of the infield than there has been in the last couple years. So that’s kind of telling me that there’s a little over-anxiousness, in my opinion.”

As Roberts alluded to, Ohtani took batting practice on the field for just the third time this season before the Dodgers faced the Giants. He sent several pitches into the stands, including a ball that cleared the Right Field Pavilion roof, but wasn’t able to replicate that success in the series opener.

“Actually, I thought the BP, the intent was good,” Roberts said of Ohtani taking swings before the game. “I thought the homers to the big part of the field were really good. And then just in the game, it just sort of reverted back to what it’s been.”

Shohei Ohtani sitting in upcoming game

When asked if Ohtani could get a mental break like several other Dodgers who have struggled in the past, Roberts said it is something he plans to do.

“Yes, yeah,” Roberts began. “He’s pitching on a Wednesday, and I haven’t decided if he’s going to (hit). One of those days, he’s not going to hit.

“So I haven’t decided that, but yeah, as far as on top of that, it’s certainly given what we’re asking of him on the pitching side, it is a fair question. I haven’t decided on that, but it certainly should be on the table.”

If Ohtani hits and pitches against the Giants on Wednesday, he will likely get the following day off. Ohtani has played in 38 of the Dodgers’ 41 games thus far.