Shohei Ohtani is back in the Dodgers lineup, DHing on Monday evening after missing four games, but the real news just dropped from his own mouth: when asked if he’d pitch again this season, he said, straight up, “most likely, no.” Talk about a gut punch for fans hoping for a comeback on the mound this year.
The Arm Is Done for 2026
Yeah, you heard that right. Ohtani’s done pitching for 2026, folks. He hasn’t even been on the mound since July 3, battling a knee injury, then a biceps injury, and lately even neck soreness that kept him out of the last four games. It’s been a rough ride for the two-way superstar, who’s been more of a one-way star with all these setbacks. He even admitted he was focused on avoiding “the most worst scenario,” which would be not playing at all. Smart move, prioritizing health, but man, it hurts. His 2026 pitching line is now officially closed: an impressive 8-2 record with a sparkling 1.79 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts across 85 ⅔ innings. That’s good for 3.0 WAR, a solid season for *just* a pitcher, but we all know what we expected from him.
Batting Slump and a Wild MVP Shift
Here’s where it gets even tougher to swallow: these injuries aren’t just sidelining his pitching arm. They seem to be messing with his bat, too. While he returned Monday and went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and a walk, that’s just a symptom of a larger funk. Since August 17-18, when he blasted three homers in two games at Coors Field, he’s been hitting a measly .122/.295/.184 over his last 13 games. That’s a brutal slump for anyone, let alone an MVP candidate. He’s got decent offensive numbers overall on the season, sure: .277/.380/.522 (148 OPS+) with 25 doubles, four triples, 30 home runs, 80 RBI, 89 runs, and 11 steals, adding another 3.5 WAR. But here’s the kicker: the guy who was the “overwhelming MVP favorite” heading into the season? Forget about it. DraftKings has Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong as a ridiculous -20000 favorite right now. If that holds, it’ll be Ohtani’s first season in Dodger blue without an MVP trophy. Wild, right?
October Still Calls for a Threepeat
So, what’s next? For Ohtani, it’s all about getting that bat back on track and finishing strong as a designated hitter. He’s confident his “overall performance should be better moving forward,” and Dodger fans desperately need that. For the team, they’re still chasing a threepeat World Series championship. Even without Ohtani in the rotation, their pitching staff for October looks absolutely stacked. We’re talking aces like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tarik Skubal, plus Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. Yeah, that’s still a dominant rotation, no question. The dream of Ohtani pitching in the playoffs is gone, but the dream of a World Series title? That’s very much alive. He’s gonna be a crucial part of that lineup push, and we’ll be watching every swing.
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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