Shohei Ohtani was not in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting lineup against the San Diego Padres on Sunday because of back tightness that forced him to exit a game Saturday night.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said sitting Ohtani would be a precautionary measure.
Ohtani left after his fourth at-bat in a 5-0 win over the Padres on Saturday night. He went 0 for 3 with a walk, grounding out to the pitcher in his final at-bat in the seventh inning. He was replaced by pinch-hitter Kiké Hernández in the ninth.
“His back tightened up,” Roberts said on Saturday night. “So it was one of those things where I got word before his fourth at-bat his back tightened up. So, being up 5-0, we didn’t want to push it.”
Roberts said Ohtani’s back was feeling better and added that Ohtani did some activity on Sunday. He had said his concern was “minimal” after Saturday’s game. Ohtani later told…
