Shohei Ohtani’s Biceps Issue Forced Him Out on July 4. Dave Roberts Says He’s ‘Considerably Better’.

The Dodgers celebrated Independence Day without their biggest star. Shohei Ohtani sat out Thursday with a biceps problem that flared up during Friday’s game against the Padres. Manager Dave Roberts sounded optimistic about the two-way phenom’s recovery though.

Ohtani got treatment overnight and into the next day. Roberts told SportsNet LA that the slugger feels considerably better. The manager added that he’s hopeful. That’s about as good as news gets for a guy who doubles as an ace pitcher.

Ohtani first felt the issue during a swing against San Diego. He said through an interpreter that the discomfort is in the same spot he felt a couple months ago. That time it went away relatively quickly, and he expects the same here. He was able to keep playing through it Friday but the Dodgers held him out Saturday as a precaution.

This season Ohtani has been dominant on the mound. He’s 8-0 with a 1.79 ERA over 14 starts. At the plate he’s doing typical Ohtani things, mashing home runs and driving in runs for a team that already looks like a National League powerhouse.

Dodgers depth is carrying them

Los Angeles is sitting at 59-31. They’re running away with the NL West even with key pitchers like Blake Snell sidelined. The team has flexed its depth all year long. Without Ohtani in the lineup Saturday, they still beat the Padres 3-0.

Roberts isn’t rushing anything. He said the team doesn’t need to make a decision about Ohtani’s next start today or tomorrow. They’re just reading and reacting to how he feels day by day. That’s smart given the stakes. Los Angeles has October on their mind, not July.

Evan Phillips is another piece heading back soon. The Orange County Register reported he is expected to be activated from the injured list on Sunday. That would give the bullpen a boost as the Dodgers face the Padres again in the series finale.

Ohtani’s biceps issue is worth watching, but all signs point to him being fine in the near future. For now the Dodgers keep rolling, with or without their two-way star in the lineup.