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The story
In a game between the Dodgers and Cardinals on September 1 (September 2 Japan time), the Dodgers allowed 5 home runs and lost 8-13. Shohei Ohtani managed just 1 hit, and his home-run-less at-bat streak has now reached 54 — the second-worst mark of the season. He was pulled partway through the 8th inning. On 5ch, opinions split over what’s behind Ohtani’s slump and whether he needs rest, with some pointing to the toll of two-way play or the demands of childcare, while others were skeptical, asking whether this is really a job tiring enough to need a break.
Sports Hochi
September 2, 2026, 14:09
◆MLB: Dodgers 8–13 Cardinals (September 1, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California)
Source: hochi.news / Original article here
What people said
Ohtani-the-pitcher always gasses out late in the season.
Doesn't matter how many runs you score if the staff can't hold anything.
Come on, get it together!
People always said that as a joke, but is it actually happening this year lol
It's been a fun ride. Thanks, Ohtani.
So from here on out he's just going to be a punching bag on 5ch, huh.
Roberts is being reckless too. ("Roba" = nickname for manager Dave Roberts)
No worries, he's a lock for MVP again this year.
He's turning into a 'Giants' case. (slang for a star player who fades when it matters most, after the Yomiuri Giants' reputation for underperforming)
A lot of them decline once their focus shifts there.
Sure, there's still some jockeying for winning percentage with teams like the Brewers or Braves, but I can't help thinking they shouldn't push him to keep playing now and should save him for the playoffs instead.
The guy who's throwing off the rotation and just phoning in his at-bats — that's 'for the team'?
Can he get something from Sada Masashi? (pun: the Cy Young Award, "Sei Young" in Japanese, sounds like the old radio show "Sei! Young," once hosted by singer Masashi Sada)
He'd never admit it, but he's worn out from raising two babies.
As long as the Dodgers stay near the top, they should rest him as much as possible.
That way pretty much all of MLB wins — like five birds with one stone.
Lol, nothing but simple-minded old-guard fanboys taking this dead seriously.
Guess you're staying unemployed this year, then.
He's flat-out dragging the team down at this point.
Everyone keeps telling Ohtani to rest, but
all he does is swing a bat and run the bases —
is that really tiring enough to need it?
Doesn't look like it takes much out of you.
Background and Key Points of the Discussion
Ohtani is heading into the late stretch of the season while continuing his two-way pitcher-hitter role, and posters in the thread had previously noted a tendency for fatigue to show around this same point in past seasons. This latest “54 at-bats without a home run” is the second-worst mark of the season, which numerically backs up just how long the slump has dragged on. At the same time, the Dodgers’ division title is considered nearly certain, and some in the thread argued that rather than pushing to keep playing, he should be saving himself for the playoffs. Views on whether he needs rest and on the cause of the slump ranged from fatigue from childcare to the toll of two-way play, but it’s worth noting these were all speculation from posters — there has been no official explanation from the team or from Ohtani himself.
*This article is compiled as an excerpt and summary of the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread “[US] Dodgers crushed 8-13 after allowing 5 homers — worrying start to September as banged-up Ohtani gets 1 hit but hits season’s 2nd-worst mark of 54 at-bats without a homer… pulled mid-8th inning.”
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