Shohei Ohtani returns, but he likely wont pitch

As Shohei Ohtani strode up to the plate Monday, Michael Bublé’s voice crooned over the Dodger Stadium audio system as always. But after 4 video games out of the lineup, the music appeared to be asking followers to consider:

“I’m feeling … good.”

Ohtani at least regarded more comfy in the batter’s box than he did Wednesday, when pain in his biceps had him shaking his proper arm. But his efficiency at the plate still stays in a stoop — he went 0 for 3 with a stroll in the Dodgers’ 6-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

“It’s hard to really feel 100% at any time in the season,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “So I wouldn’t say I’m there.”

Roberts will continue to intently monitor Ohtani, saying he’ll see how the celebrity designated hitter feels Tuesday before finalizing any choices about enjoying time.

The Dodgers and Ohtani have all but ruled out his return to the mound this season.

“Disappointing,” Ohtani said. “But I want to make sure that when I look back at this season, that I used this as an experience, a learning experience and make sure that I use that as something to improve upon for next season.”

Roberts said he hoped Ohtani may improve his offensive manufacturing by not pitching.

“That’s one part of the thought, to sort of take the pitching off of his plate and really try to let him lock in on being a hitter and get on track,” Roberts said. “Because the last couple of weeks he just hasn’t been himself in the box.”

In the six video games before Roberts sat Ohtani because of health considerations, he only had two hits.

“I’m confident that my overall performance should be better moving forward,” Ohtani said. “I think the thing that I was more focused on was making sure that the pitching wouldn’t cause the worst scenario, which was for me to not be able to play at all.”

Ohtani flew out in his first at-bat, and then struck out on a Chase Burns slider below the zone. He struck out again against Brandon Williamson to end the fifth before reaching base in the seventh on a stroll.

“It was certainly good to get him back out there, but there was certainly nothing to kind of write home about,” Roberts said. “I think the main thing is that there was nothing alarming from the at-bats. To take four days off, to come out of it feeling good, I think that’s a win in itself.”

The Dodgers (87-57) caught a break with Burns — thought-about a top-five National League Cy Young candidate — since the Reds (69-75) had him on a pitch restrict in an effort to handle his workload.

Burns held the Dodgers hitless through three innings, putting out Ohtani as his last act before handing duties to the bullpen.

Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan, recalled on Monday as the Dodgers optioned right-hander Bobby Miller, gave up a home run to Elly De La Cruz in the first before outdueling the Reds’ bullpen. He gave up three hits, one run and struck out 10 over 5⅔ innings.

Sheehan will stay in the rotation and is scheduled to start Sunday in Miami, Roberts said.

Against Williamson in the fifth inning, Teoscar Hernández lined a leadoff single into left discipline. After Alex Call was hit in the suitable foot with a pitch, Miguel Rojas chopped a grounder to Reds third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, whose errant throw allowed two runs to rating as Rojas dashed to third.

The next inning, Hernández punctuated his latest sizzling streak by lining a three-run homer into the Dodgers’ bullpen — with the very best exit velocity (112.6 mph) of any ball he’s put in play since 2024, according to Statcast.

Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan delivers during the third inning against the Reds on Monday.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

Though Dodgers relievers Seth Halvorsen and Jack Dreyer each gave up a run, the Dodgers tacked on insurance coverage in the eighth inning with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly from pinch-hitting Will Smith. And the workforce prolonged its successful streak to 5 video games.

Ohtani didn’t play a half in any of the Dodgers’ scoring, but at least he was back in the batter’s box.

“It felt like, ‘long time no see,’” he said.