Dave Roberts makes telling Shohei Ohtani decision after dominant Dodgers outing

The Los Angeles Dodgers got exactly what they wanted from Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday night. Now they're making sure he gets exactly what he needs.

Just hours after Ohtani delivered one of his most dominant pitching performances of the season, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced the two-way superstar would not be in Thursday's lineup against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The decision wasn't a surprise inside the organization. In fact, it was part of the plan all along.

According to Dodgers beat writer Bill Plunkett, Roberts said the club wanted Ohtani to "empty the tank" during Wednesday's game before receiving a full recovery day in the series finale. That approach highlights just how carefully Los Angeles is managing baseball's most unique player as he continues balancing responsibilities on the mound and at the plate.

Dodgers sticking to a long-term Shohei Ohtani plan

The Dodgers have spent much of the season designing Ohtani's schedule around recovery and workload management. Every start represents a balancing act. Ohtani isn't simply preparing as a starting pitcher or a designated hitter. He's doing both, which requires a level of physical maintenance no other player in Major League Baseball faces.

Roberts has repeatedly emphasized the importance of maximizing Ohtani's effectiveness over the course of an entire season rather than pushing him through unnecessary fatigue in June. Thursday's decision is another example of that philosophy.

5 times on base for tonight's pitcher of record -- #Dodgers Shohei Ohtani -- after a broken-bat single in the 9th

With an off day built into the schedule, the Dodgers were comfortable allowing Ohtani to fully extend himself Wednesday knowing he would have a complete day to recover afterward.

Ohtani rewarded the Dodgers' trust

The strategy paid off immediately. Ohtani was brilliant against Arizona, tossing six scoreless innings while allowing just two hits. For a moment, history even appeared possible.

The Diamondbacks did not record a hit until Gabriel Moreno doubled in the fourth inning, ending Ohtani's no-hit bid. Even so, the performance continued an impressive stretch of dominance on the mound as he grows more comfortable handling his two-way workload.

Just as encouraging for Los Angeles has been Ohtani's production at the plate.

Ohtani's bat is heating up at the perfect time

While his pitching has generated headlines, Ohtani's offensive numbers have quietly surged over the last month. After posting a .273 batting average and .897 OPS during March and April, Ohtani has elevated his game significantly since May 1.

Since that date, he has hit .314 with a .959 OPS. Since May 6, those numbers have climbed even higher, with Ohtani batting .367 and posting a staggering 1.086 OPS.

Over his last 10 games, he has slashed .385/.467/.667, looking increasingly like the MVP-caliber force the Dodgers expected when he returned to full two-way duties.

That's exactly why Roberts' latest decision matters. The Dodgers aren't thinking about one game against Arizona. They're thinking about October. And if that means giving baseball's biggest star an occasional day off after a dominant performance, it's a tradeoff Los Angeles will gladly make.