Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, Kiké Hernández Exit Tuesday’s Game Early

Two players appeared to suffer unrelated injuries in the Los Angeles Dodgers' game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday, each serious enough to force them out of the game.

Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was hit by a pitch on his right hand in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ohtani remained in the game after being hit by the 85-mph changeup from Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland, and he scored on a double by Andy Pages.

Shohei Ohtani got hit in the padding of his right hand. Dave Roberts and Dodgers team trainer Thomas Albert came out to check on him and Shohei waived them off. Dave said before the game that he would be in the lineup for his start tomorrow.

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— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) May 27, 2026

But he was replaced by pinch hitter Dalton Rushing prior to his next plate appearance. Ohtani is scheduled to start the series finale on the mound Wednesday against the Rockies, but that could be in jeopardy.

Meanwhile Kiké Hernández was removed with a left oblique strain after he hit a double in the same inning. He also initially remained in the game, but then was replaced by Hyeseong Kim.

Hernández hit a home run earlier in the game — just his second contest this season after an elbow injury sidelined him for the season's first seven weeks.

Ohtani was 0-for-2 in his first three plate appearances of the game. The four-time Most Valuable Player is slashing .270/.403/.471 as the team's everyday leadoff hitter and DH.

The greater concern is what, if any, effect being hit by a pitch on his throwing hand will have on Ohtani.

In eight starts this season, Ohtani is 4-2 with a 0.73 ERA. Setting his 49 innings pitched as a minimum, no other pitcher in MLB has an ERA lower than 1.50.

Any injury to Ohtani would compound a string of bad luck that has followed the Dodgers' hitters and pitchers recently. Besides the new injury to Hernández, Max Muncy is nursing an injury to his wrist that he suffered on May 22 in Milwaukee. He hasn't played since, though he's managed to avoid the injured list so far.

Meanwhile, starting pitchers Tyler Glasnow (lower back spasms) and Blake Snell (loose bodies in elbow) are on the 15-day IL recovering from injuries. Their absence led the Dodgers to pick up veteran Eric Lauer, who started Tuesday against the Rockies.

Lauer allowed one run in six innings in his Dodger debut, enough to earn another start on merit. At this rate, the Dodgers might need him even after Glasnow and Snell return to health.

Despite the injuries, the Dodgers were routing the Rockies, 13-1, through six innings.

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