Shohei Ohtani is looking rough right now, folks. After going 0 for 4 with four strikeouts on Wednesday night in a tough 8-6, 10-inning loss to the Cardinals, the Dodgers are seriously mulling an injured list stint for their superstar. He just hasn’t looked like himself recently, hitting a dismal 2 for 32, a paltry .087 average, with 11 strikeouts in his last six games. Manager Dave Roberts openly admitted Ohtani isn’t 100% physically, and that Wednesday’s struggles felt like “the tip of the iceberg.”
Nagging Injuries Have Ohtani’s Season in a Tailspin
The issues keeping Ohtani off the mound since July 3 are now clearly impacting him at the plate. He’s battling nagging knee and biceps injuries. We all know how crucial a player like Ohtani is when he’s healthy, but these two problems are clearly compounding. Roberts, speaking via MLB.com, sounded like he was trying to figure it out, asking, “Is a day or two? Or I mean, shoot, even 10 days? Is that going to help get him to be 100%? Don’t know the answer.” He went on to say they might just have to “find a way to make do.” That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement of health, is it?
The performance drop from his dominant first half is stark, it’s almost hard to believe it’s the same player. In the first half of 2026, Ohtani was rocking a .293 average, a .953 OPS, and had smashed 23 homers. His pitching line was just as insane: 85 ⅔ innings with a ridiculous 1.79 ERA. Flash forward to the second half, and his average has dipped to .250, his OPS is down to .809, and he’s only hit 8 home runs. The pitching stats are “N/A” for a reason, he hasn’t been able to get on the mound. It’s clear the right biceps issue is still barking, and that left knee, his landing leg, is still getting regular treatment.
The Stakes Are High as Dodgers Fight for Postseason Byes
Even with the Dodgers safely atop the NL West, they’re battling for a top-two seed and that precious Wild Card Series bye. Just look at the National League standings: the Brewers are sitting at 87-53, the Braves at 83-57, and the Dodgers are right there at 82-57. They’re only 4 ½ games back from Milwaukee, but that bye means skipping an entire round, which boosts your World Series odds and gives tired players crucial rest. With only two scheduled off-days left in the season , September 10 and September 21 , Roberts has a serious dilemma.
He knows Ohtani wants to be in the lineup, saying, “I know he feels that he needs to post and be in the lineup. If he’s upright, he should play. I respect that.” But Roberts also gets that playing hurt doesn’t help anyone, adding, “if he’s feeling the way that visibly looks, then really not helping anyone.” So, will Ohtani get the IL stint he clearly needs to heal up, or will the Dodgers push him to keep playing through it for that Wild Card Series bye? It’s a tough call, and one that could absolutely define their postseason run.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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