Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ absolute supernova, is officially on the 15-day injured list. Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts dropped the news on September 9, confirming what many were probably dreading. This move means Ohtani will be out for more than two weeks as the Dodgers push hard into the season’s final stretch, a brutal blow for a guy who started the year looking for his fourth-straight MVP.
What’s The Deal With All These Injuries?
Man, Ohtani has been battling it out, but it sounds like his body finally said “nope.” He’s been cut down by a trifecta of issues: a left knee problem, right biceps trouble, and a neck injury. Just last week, he was held out of the lineup for three straight games. He tried to come back on September 7, going 0-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in the Dodgers’ 6-3 win over the Reds. But after that, he went right back to the bench, giving way to Freddie Freeman and Will Smith. Roberts confirmed the IL trip after Los Angeles took down Cincinnati 14-1 on Wednesday night. This isn’t new, either: Ohtani felt left knee pain back on June 11 trying to steal a base against the Pirates, and then three weeks later, tightness in his right biceps. He hasn’t even appeared on the mound since then, telling reporters he isn’t planning on pitching again in 2026. Because of his two-way status, he’s stuck on the 15-day IL, not the usual 10.
Roberts Kicking The Bucket, And What’s Next For LA
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was blunt about the decision, saying, **”It’s the right thing to do, we tried to kick the bucket as much as we could.”** That tells you everything, right? They waited as long as humanly possible, trying to let Ohtani recover on the fly, but it just wasn’t happening. While Ohtani’s MVP candidacy has definitely quieted down because of these injuries, the Dodgers are still absolutely World Series contenders. Roberts and the squad know they need their star back in action. To fill the gap, Los Angeles called up outfielder Josue De Paula, who’s the No. 6 player on MLB Pipeline’s prospect list. That’s a huge opportunity for the kid, but everyone knows it’s Ohtani they want back.
So, when can we see him back on the field? Ohtani isn’t permitted to return to the Dodgers’ lineup until September 23. That means he’ll have just a few games to shake off the rust before the MLB postseason officially kicks off on Tuesday, September 29, with the Wild Card series. The Divisional Round starts on October 3. Los Angeles better hope Ohtani’s body responds fast, because the road to the World Series is coming in hot!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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