"Today is definitely a lot better than yesterday" - Shohei Ohtani shares positive update on hamstring injury ahead of Mets series opener

The Los Angeles Dodgers are amid their worst losing skid of the season after losing their last five games. But the NL West team received positive news on Monday from superstar slugger Shohei Ohtani.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made a worrying revelation on Saturday when he stated that Shohei Ohtani has been hampered by a hamstring injury since being hit by a pickoff throw last week.

Roberts made the statement after Ohtani's base running speed was questioned during the sixth inning of the second game of the series against the Cincinnati Reds.

“Our advice to him is just be smart with it,” Roberts said over the weekend per The AP. “I think he was just going to leg out a double and the ball just didn’t get in (to the infield), so he kept running. It is him just managing the hamstring.

Ohtani, who is leading the majors with a .336 batting average, stated on Monday that he is feeling much better with the injury not affecting his swing.

"It's getting better day by day," he said. "Today is definitely a lot better than yesterday."

Ohtani struggled during the Dodgers' last series against the Cincinnati Reds as he went just two of 13 at the plate.

Shohei Ohtani getting closer to returning to the mound

Shohei Ohtani has been restricted to the role of a designated hitter as the two-way phenom is recovering from a Tommy John surgery after his elbow issue last year. Although it is unlikely the Japanese superstar will pitch for the Dodgers this season, Ohtani is making steady progress during his rehab.

"Just progressively increasing the distance," Ohtani said through an interpreter Monday. "Usually anywhere from 60-70 pitches, in that distance. Just continuing to increase the distance and the pitches, and just seeing where that goes. I'm not quite sure how far I'm going to go out there, but that's the progression."

Ohtani's last two-way game came with the Los Angeles Angeles in August last year before the two-time MVP underwent Tommy John surgery to repair his elbow in September.

Although the superstar slugger is on pace for his best offensive season in the major leagues with 13 homers and 35 RBIs, the Dodgers have struggled offensively in the last few games. They will be hoping that the Japanese star can overcome his hamstring issue to end the team's losing streak when they take on the New York Mets for the series opener at Citi Field on Tuesday.