LOS ANGELES — The end result would be a frustrating 2-1 loss, something that would last longer than most games in April. But inside the Dodgers clubhouse, Tuesday night felt less like a referendum on one game and more like a snapshot of a larger, evolving question: How much Shohei Ohtani should this team use, and when?
Because through six innings at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani once again looked like the Dodgers’ most reliable answer.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn pictures
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Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches during the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium.
He is not dominant in an aesthetic sense. By his own admission, these “things” are not clear. The command falters just enough to generate traffic. Yet the line he left behind, with six innings, five hits, one earned run and nine strikeouts, reads like a template he now repeats with astonishing consistency. Ohtani has made five starts this season and he’s not only been great, he’s been outstanding. He’s historically been consistent, producing the baseline that most pitchers spend their entire lives chasing.
Still, he took the loss.
“He went six innings and only gave up two hits and we should have won the game,” Roberts said.
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The disconnect between individual talent and team results was the story of the night. The Dodgers loaded the bases in the first inning but got nothing. They sent out a runner in the eighth inning and scored one run. Eight players remained on base, some leverage was missed, and suddenly a game that had felt like a winnable game never worked in their favor again against the sharp Jason Garbage.
Dave Roberts didn’t dress it up afterwards. The word is “situation.” Its meaning is broader.
“As far as the situation goes, we were not good at all tonight,” Roberts said.
With a lineup this deep, a night like this shouldn’t happen. But they do. When they do, they raise a question that’s been there even before the first pitch: If Ohtani can hit, why doesn’t he?
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There’s logic to the Dodgers’ decision to keep him out of the lineup on his pitching days. Protect your arms. Manage workload. Think October, not April. It’s a philosophy shaped by a combination of caution and long-term ambition, especially for a player coming off a second major elbow surgery.
But logic doesn’t always make it easy to deal with a loss.
Everything Ohtani said was right, he always did it. He respects the decision. He understands the bigger picture. He wants to stay healthy when it matters most. But his words were enough to reveal the tension behind them.
“I think for players who want to work both ways and want to DH, they should choose to DH,” Ohtani said. “At the same time, it’s hard to say right now and we’ll see how it goes at the end of the season.”
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This is not rebellion. This is perspective. Maybe, eventually, it will become a conversation.
Because this isn’t just a game in April. It’s about who he and the team are. Ohtani is not a traditional ace or a traditional DH. Limiting him, even strategically, means accepting that part of his value is reserved for later rather than deployed in the moment.
Tuesday was a case study in trade-offs. The Dodgers lost by one run. The best hitter on the planet has never picked up a bat.
Will it change the outcome? There is no clear answer. Baseball rarely offers that. But that assumption keeps popping up, especially in tight games and especially when the offense stalls.
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To their credit, the Dodgers didn’t deny the conversation. Roberts opened the door for Ohtani to express his preferences more directly. This is important. This is not a rigid policy but a moving target.
“Whether I pitch or do both, I’m going to respect the decision,” Ohtani said. “But I also understand the importance of finishing the season with everyone healthy.”
Ohtani’s next start is scheduled to be next week in Houston. That goal may change as the season lengthens.
For now, the Dodgers are choosing to exercise restraint. They’re betting that a slightly more limited Otani in April will lead to a fully released version in October. It’s a reasonable bet. Maybe even the right one.
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But nights like Tuesday expose the cost.
Because when Ohtani is on the mound, the instinct is to get all of him, even if it’s not handled perfectly. Pitchers who give you six elite innings. A hitter whose one hit could change the game.
The Dodgers are trying to have it both ways. The question is when they will decide they need it in the meantime.