Dodgers give Shohei Ohtani a DH break as his offensive slump deepens

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is getting a break from the batter’s box for one day and possibly longer.

The struggling Los Angeles Dodgers superstar is 4 for 36 at the plate this month, with just six home runs on the season and none in May. He’s batting .233 with 16 RBIs.

Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Ohtani would not be in lineup as the designated hitter on Thursday, although he would be available late if the outcome hangs in the balance. Roberts said he had yet to decide but was leaning toward not having Ohtani hit Wednesday, when he starts on the mound against the San Francisco Giants.

“It might just be a good thing to take a little bit of a load off of his plate offensively,” Roberts said. “I just can’t take for granted what’s on his plate and so I’m trying to be sensitive.”

As Ohtani goes, so have the Dodgers (24-17). They began Tuesday a half-game behind NL West-leading San Diego, having lost three in a row. Andy Pages (.325 average) and Max Muncy (.280) have been LA’s best hitters so far, while the rest of the lineup is struggling, including Freddie Freeman (.273) and Kyle Tucker (.250).

Ohtani is in his first full season as a two-way player for the Dodgers. Coming off two major right elbow surgeries, he was limited to...