Shohei Ohtani walked off the mound at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday with blood smeared across his pitching hand — and a growing list of concerns for a Dodgers team that can’t afford to lose its two-way superstar.
The 31-year-old right-hander was pulled after five innings against the Tampa Bay Rays after a persistent finger blister finally burst during the fifth frame, according to Dodgers Nation’s Nelson Espinal. Ohtani stayed in for one more inning before manager Dave Roberts waved him off.
“Shohei Ohtani was bloodied up, both metaphorically and physically, during the 5th,” Espinal posted on social media. “He has been dealing with a blister for a while now, though Dave Roberts has labeled it as a non-issue. However, it is persisting and something to keep an eye on.”
The blister on his right middle finger had been nagging Ohtani for weeks, but the team had publicly downplayed it. Wednesday’s rupture turned a quiet concern into a visible problem — one that arrived in the same inning Ohtani surrendered a season-high four earned runs.
That fifth inning unraveled quickly. Ohtani allowed back-to-back doubles, a walk, and a home run, wiping out the Dodgers’ lead. Over his last two starts, he’s now given up seven earned runs. For a pitcher who entered June with a 2.76 ERA, the sudden slide is hard to ignore.
As if the blister weren’t enough, Ohtani also played through inflammation in his left knee, per the team. The double trouble has fans and analysts alike wondering whether the nine-year veteran is pushing too hard. Roberts did not immediately indicate whether Ohtani would skip his next turn in the rotation.
Batting Production Remains Bright Spot
On the offensive side, Ohtani continues to produce. The four-time MVP has posted 76 hits, 15 home runs, and 42 RBIs this season, good for a .297 batting average and an NL-leading .419 on-base percentage. His presence in the lineup hasn’t wavered, even as his pitching form has faltered over the past two weeks.
The question for the Dodgers front office is whether to manage Ohtani’s workload more aggressively. With the blister now bleeding openly and the knee inflammation persisting, Roberts faces a delicate balancing act between chasing wins in June and preserving his most valuable weapon for October.
For now, the team has confirmed no decision has been made about Ohtani’s next start. The blood has been cleaned up, but the concerns are still there — raw and very much on the table.
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