Shohei Ohtani gets a night off as his biceps and neck issues linger

Shohei Ohtani opted for a day off on Thursday following discomfort he displayed while striking out four times during the Los Angeles Dodgers' 10-inning defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals in the previous game. Manager Dave Roberts informed Ohtani about his absence from the next game in a series after the loss. Ohtani confirmed the issue by texting back an emoji salute.

The Dodgers' two-way star admitted that his right biceps and neck were causing him discomfort. Manager Roberts mentioned that Ohtani's symptoms have not improved over time, and the possibility of a stint on the injured list is not entirely ruled out. The manager said he would discuss with Ohtani and team trainers later on Thursday to determine his status for Friday's series opener against Washington.

Ohtani hasn't played since July 3 due to persistent pain in his left knee and right biceps. At the plate, he has been hitting .279 after striking out four consecutive times for the first time this season. Prior to his suspension, Ohtani had an impressive pitching record of 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts. He had a 20-pitch bullpen session last Friday but was not included in a potential start at Detroit two days later.

The Dodgers are hoping for a fully recovered Ohtani before the World Series in October. Manager Roberts expressed confidence in seeing the player everyone anticipates to see.