Shohei Ohtani and Dalton Rushing had a clear in-game disagreement in the bottom of the second inning, and manager Dave Roberts intervened right after. The issue came during pitch challenges, spilled into a run that scored on a passed ball, and left the battery
The disagreement landed in the bottom of the second inning, right in the middle of a moment that is supposed to run on timing and trust. Shohei Ohtani and Dalton Rushing weren’t on the same page over multiple pitches that the pitcher wanted to challenge.
On the first one, Rushing shook his head, signaling they shouldn’t challenge it. On the second, Rushing seemed to gesture toward Ohtani to calm down. The argument didn’t fade—it threaded into the inning itself.
Ohtani ended up being correct on the challenge he made. But he also took responsibility for what followed: he gave up three runs in the inning. including allowing one run to score on a passed ball. After that passed ball, Rushing didn’t look pleased. He signaled again—making it unmistakable that the communication problems weren’t just about a single call.
Dave Roberts then stepped in. After the inning ended. the Dodgers manager had a long talk with Rushing in the dugout. placing his arm around him during the conversation. Roberts wasn’t the only one to pull Rushing aside. Freddie Freeman and pitching coach Mark Prior also had conversations with the young catcher. along with the team’s mental skills coach.
The Dodgers’ catcher change has been an adjustment in motion for weeks. Ohtani had been paired with Will Smith for his first 10 starts of the season. Since the All-Star catcher went on the injured list, Rushing has been catching for Ohtani.
Ohtani and Rushing’s learning curve has already been acknowledged. After Ohtani’s start last week—his second with Rushing—the young catcher admitted they were still learning each other. “Obviously, we expect close to perfection out of Sho every time he goes out there. So does he, out of himself,” Rushing said last week. “But there’s no piece to worry at all. Obviously I think I can build a little better relationship moving forward, based off what has happened. Whether we get hit around here, hit around there, I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. I think it’s just a learning lesson for both of us.”.
This third outing as battery mates showed that lesson continuing, not settling.
Rushing’s reactions haven’t always been quiet this season. He’s been in the headlines repeatedly as he’s let his emotions spill into games. As recently as this weekend, he said he was “still working” on controlling his emotions.
Roberts has framed the issue as something young players have to adjust to, not something they can avoid forever. “It might not show it that after he vents. he does a good job of collecting himself to get back into the next play. the next at-bat. catching. ” Roberts said recently. “I think his growth needs to be the adjustments in-game, and they need to be sooner. That’s a lot of times with young players. Swinging at balls out of the strike zone because you want to do too much and letting the game come to you. and that’s not an emotional thing. that’s just kind of trying to slow the game down.”.
On Wednesday, even with the early friction, Ohtani’s night wasn’t static. In the third inning, he appeared to start calling his own pitches, and he struck out the side in that frame.
The bigger picture still matters. Through his first 10 starts this season (with Will Smith), Ohtani had allowed five earned runs. With Rushing behind the plate, he had allowed seven earned runs over his two starts heading into this game.
For the Dodgers. the most immediate question is whether the frustration will turn into faster alignment—or whether it keeps showing up at the exact moments that decide innings. After the passed ball. after the challenge disagreement. and after the manager’s visible intervention. that answer is now an urgent one.
Shohei Ohtani Dalton Rushing Dave Roberts Los Angeles Dodgers Will Smith Mark Prior Freddie Freeman MLB passed ball pitch challenge