Shohei Ohtani 'Not Close to Optimal' Amid Injury Woes, Struggles, Dodgers' Dave Roberts Says

Shohei Ohtani's availability is in question after he struck out four times while batting Thursday night against the St. Louis Cardinals, according to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

Ohtani, who hasn't pitched since July 3 due to left knee issues, paused to shake out his arm while going 0-for-4 at the plate as the Dodgers conceded an 8-6 extra-innings loss.

Roberts said Wednesday night he felt an IL stint for Ohtani was a possibility but "very unlikely."

"If he's feeling the way that visibly looks, then really not helping anyone, so that's the conversation that I'll have with him," Roberts told reporters.

Roberts continued, "Clearly, tonight, you could see the swing wasn't the swing that we're used to seeing. So he's not close to optimal tonight."

Roberts said he planned to speak with both Ohtani and Dodgers head athletic trainer Thomas Albert before making any decisions about Ohtani's availability.

The Dodgers manager also expressed doubt, however, that a short break would help Ohtani get back to "100 percent" in time for the postseason.

"Is a day or two, or shoot, even 10 days, is that going to help get him to be 100 percent? Don't know the answer," Roberts said. "Where we're at, I think he's just going to have to find a way to make do, and do the best he can."

Ohtani had some big whiffs in a Wednesday night outing that marked the continuation of a down stretch for the Dodgers star, who has batted just .143 with four hits in 33 plate appearances over his last seven games.

He hasn't been the only player struggling for the Dodgers, which have gone 2-5 over that stretch.

Should Ohtani miss any time, the Dodgers will need its offense to do better than the 13 runners they stranded against the Cardinals in order to set themselves up for a World Series three-peat.

After going 13-16 since the start of August, the two-time defending MLB champions are in danger of losing out on a Wild Card round bye.