Dave Roberts wasn’t speaking in hypotheticals. He made his comments on September 8 while Shohei Ohtani was watching from the dugout for the fifth time in six games. The Dodgers manager said that players become more open to rest as they get older — and he used Freddie Freeman as the direct counterpoint. Freeman said in spring training that he wants to play all 162. That same night, Freeman slid over to DH to fill the spot Ohtani left empty in Cincinnati. The philosophical contrast Roberts described in words was right there in the lineup.
What Roberts Said — and What Was Happening on the Field
«As they get older, more mature, they’re more open,» Roberts told Dodgers Nation. «But you still have guys like Freddie Freeman that think they want to play 162.»
The comment didn’t come out of nowhere. Ohtani hasn’t pitched since July 3 due to left knee discomfort, and a right biceps issue has been affecting his swing. Since August 8, he’s hitting .198 with a .690 OPS and 34 strikeouts in 96 at-bats — a sharp drop from his season line of .277/.380/.902. In his last seven games heading into September 8, he was 2-for-26 (.077) with zero RBI.
Freeman is the other end of the spectrum. Back in spring training, the first baseman said without hesitation that he wanted to play every game. Roberts backed him up at the time: «I think he should plan on playing 162. That’s how he’s wired,» the manager told Dodgers Nation in February. Seven months later, Roberts is drawing the line between the two — the one who accepts rest and the one who won’t hear of it.
On the night of September 8, that line showed up in the dugout. Freeman moved to DH, Max Muncy covered first base, and Ohtani sat. It wasn’t a rotation accident — it was a live illustration of exactly what Roberts had just described.
Why October Changes the Math for the Dodgers
The Dodgers (87-57) lead the NL West and are chasing a third straight World Series title. In that context, Roberts has one priority: getting Ohtani’s bat healthy for October. The manager has said he is «very, very in favor of making sure we don’t compromise the hitting» — and that means keeping Ohtani out of the lineup when his body asks for it.
A return to the mound in the regular season is already off the table. Ohtani made 14 starts in 2026, going 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 95 strikeouts in 85.2 innings before his knee shut him down. A postseason pitching role hasn’t been ruled out entirely, but the organization isn’t willing to risk what it values most in October: his bat.
According to Roberts, Ohtani maintains «a very honest line of communication with the team» about how he’s feeling physically. That’s exactly what the manager was describing when he talked about maturity — a 32-year-old willing to say when he needs to stop, rather than push through.
The Numbers Behind the Player
Ohtani plays both sides of the ball, and Statcast tracks him on both. His 2026 numbers:
At the plate (596 plate appearances):
- 30 home runs, 80 RBI
- AVG: .277 · OPS: .902
- xwOBA: .399 (99th percentile — elite)
- Average exit velocity: 93.2 mph (97th percentile)
- Barrel rate: 15.8% (97th percentile)
- Hard-hit rate: 51.5% (94th percentile)
- Average bat speed: 74.6 mph (80th percentile)
On the mound (14 starts, 85.2 innings):
- Record: 8-2 · ERA: 1.79 · WHIP: 0.95
- 95 strikeouts, 26 walks (27.9% strikeout rate)
- xERA: 2.72 (95th percentile)
- Average fastball: 97.8 mph with 2,459 rpm spin rate (93rd percentile)
- Whiff rate: 30.4% (86th percentile)
- Opponent batting average: .180
- Average exit velocity allowed: 87.4 mph
- Barrel rate allowed: 3.8% (94th percentile in barrels avoided)
