Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Seen With Bloody Finger on Pitching Hand During Rays Game Amid Blister Issue

Shohei Ohtani was not as effective as usual on the mound during Wednesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, and he was seen with a bloody finger on his right pitching hand.

It came after the Los Angeles Dodgers star told reporters earlier this month he has been dealing with a blister on the middle finger of that pitching hand but said "I don't think it's been affecting my performance."

Ohtani allowed four earned runs and seven hits while striking out four in the first five innings but still remained in the game to start the sixth despite the blood and the relative ineffectiveness, at least compared to his normal level.

The right-hander entered Wednesday's game with a sparkling 1.06 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 67.2 innings. Those pitching numbers alone would make him one of the most valuable players in the league, but he is also a dominant hitter who is a threat to go deep every time he steps into the box.

Yet the blood was notable since he was coming off his worst start of the season when he took the mound Wednesday.

He allowed four runs (three earned), six hits and three walks while striking out six in 6.2 innings of work in the Dodgers' loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates last Wednesday.

"No issues with the blisters," he said after that game. "I don't think it's been affecting my performance. Just the last couple at-bats, I wish I got some calls my way, but it just didn't turn out that way, and that's the part that I wish I could have been able to change a little bit."

But he once again wasn't completely dominant for the second start in a row and was seen bleeding during the game against the Rays.

That is only going to lead to more questions about the blister even if he previously said it wasn't negatively impacting his overall performance.