Shohei Ohtani has missed the last two Dodgers games, marking just the second time he’s been sidelined for multiple games since coming to Los Angeles. Yeah, seriously. The other time was a two-game paternity leave back in April 2025. But this time? It feels way different.
Ohtani’s Absence Stretches Out
It looks like Ohtani is probably gonna miss Saturday’s game too, which would be his longest absence yet in a Dodgers uniform. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters after Friday’s game that he didn’t expect Ohtani to be in the lineup on Saturday, but said he would check in with him Saturday afternoon. Talk about holding your breath, right? This is their superstar we’re talking about, and seeing him out for this long has gotta be rattling for their fans.
Kyle Tucker’s Bat Just Woke Up, Kinda
While Ohtani’s on the bench, Kyle Tucker finally decided to show some life, smashing a homer in the sixth inning on Friday. Don’t get too excited though, that was only his third home run at Dodger Stadium all season. His first one since June 15 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Think about that for a second: 33 full games and 113 plate appearances between dingers at home. During that brutal stretch, he was hitting a measly .177/.306/.195 with just seven RBI. That’s just… ouch. It’s gotta make you wonder what’s going on with their lineup when a guy like Tucker goes that cold at home.
Dodgers Ownership Under Federal Spotlight
But wait, there’s more. Away from the field, Dodgers chairman and owner Mark Walter is currently under federal investigation for his insurance dealings. Pablo Torre’s podcast, “Pablo Torre Finds Out,” just dove deep into all of it. The podcast went over some old ground, like how Walter’s ownership group bought the team in 2012 and then landed that wild $8.35 billion television contract with Time Warner. But the really wild part? The podcast dropped details about a deal between Walter, Magic Johnson, and the life insurance company EquiTrust. That company got sold off to Amistad Financial in 2025, and guess what? Amistad is one of several companies linked to Walter that are under investigation. This isn’t just some backroom gossip; this is federal level stuff hitting the guy at the top.
So, the Dodgers have another game Saturday. With their biggest star potentially sidelined for his longest stretch yet and the team owner facing a federal investigation, it’s gotta be a tense weekend in LA. What happens next? We’re all watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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