SAN DIEGO — Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was removed after his fourth at-bat Saturday night, during his club’s 5-0 victory over the San Diego Padres, when his back tightened up.
After the win, Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said his concern is minimal, but Ohtani most likely will sit out Sunday’s series finale as a precautionary measure.
Ohtani finished the night 0 for 3 with a walk, with his last at-bat in the seventh inning. In the ninth, Enrique Hernandez pinch-hit hit for him, and struck out looking.
“I got word before his fourth at-bat that his back tightened up,” Roberts told reporters. “(With the score) being 5-0, we didn’t want to push it. So we’ll see how he comes in (Sunday).”
Ohtani’s teammate, James Paxton (5-0), was masterful while allowing four hits with four strikeouts and no walks in the win.
“James was good again. All of his pitches were working,” Roberts said. “He was on the attack all night long. He kept them off balance.”
Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (0-0, 6.75) will make his second start of the season in the series finale, facing off against San Diego right-hander Yu Darvish (2-1, 2.94).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.