Shohei Ohtani struggles at the plate as Los Angeles Dodgers visit Detroit

Shohei Ohtani hit 0-for-5 during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 6-1 victory against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. The performance dropped his batting average to.280, his lowest level since May, and continued a slide that has seen him record five hits in his last 40 at-bats. Manager Dave Roberts attributed the recent slump to mechanical hitting flaws, including inconsistent pitch selection and a tendency to pull the ball too often. Ohtani’s recent struggles coincide with ongoing physical complications, as knee and biceps issues forced the team to delay his return to the mound. With his.908 OPS now trailing Pete Crow-Armstrong’s.944, Ohtani’s position in the National League MVP race has slipped. The Dodgers plan to evaluate Ohtani’s status regarding his potential return to the pitching rotation after the team returns to Los Angeles.

• 1:15 AMYahoo Sports — Shohei Ohtani’s slump is killing his MVP chances –– and the Dodgers’ offense