ANAHEIM — The Dodgers might 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 was 3 for 8 through the first two games of the 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 might be becoming a trend this season. He went 2 for 5 with a double on April 17 against the Colorado Rockies after two days off.
Ohtani walked three times and stole a base against the Miami Marlins after a day off on April 28 and went 2 for 4 with a double, a stolen base and a RBI against the Houston 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 might 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 might be changing, though, in Ohtani’s next start against the San Diego 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 he changed spots in the rotation with Emmet Sheehan so that Ohtani can have a built-in off day the day after he pitches.
SHUFFLING THE DECK
The Dodgers made a couple of roster moves regarding the bullpen prior to Sunday’s game. Reliever Jack Dreyer was placed on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder discomfort after feeling some soreness while warming up in the bullpen during Saturday’s game.
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 Atlanta 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 on Saturday.
McDermott was required in a minor-league trade with the Baltimore Orioles this season after the Orioles designated him for assignment.
NEW ADDITION
The Dodgers acquired left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer from the Toronto 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.
Right-hander Brusdar Graterol was moved to the 60-day IL to make room for Lauer on the 40-man roster.
PADRES ON DECK
The Dodgers head to San Diego this week to play their first series this season against the NL West rival Padres, who have been neck-and-neck with them atop the division standings.
The Padres (28-18) were a half-game behind the Dodgers (29-18) for first place after both completed series sweeps on Sunday. The Dodgers went 9-4 against the Padres last season.
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
