Shohei Ohtani, the superstar we all thought was invincible, is finally expected back on the field soon after his first stint on the injured list since landing with the Dodgers back in 2024. But here’s the kicker: while the 15-day IL for right biceps inflammation is almost a wrap, he’s been battling left knee soreness for months. Manager Dave Roberts is hoping Ohtani makes his return during that three-game series against the Padres starting Tuesday night, but even he admits it’s “still up in the air.”
Dodgers Scramble on the Mound While Ohtani’s Return Looms
Look, pitching in the big leagues is never easy, but the Dodgers’ rotation looks like a jigsaw puzzle right now. They just recalled right-hander Emmet Sheehan to handle the bulk of Sunday’s series finale against the San Francisco Giants. Sheehan’s season numbers, 5-8 with a 4.79 ERA in 22 appearances, aren’t exactly setting the world on fire, which makes Roberts’ comments about “piecing through the available options today” even more telling. Jack Dreyer is set to start, but Sheehan is clearly the main event. Beyond that, they’ve been shuffling the deck like crazy, recalling Kyle Hurt, putting Tarik Skubal on the bereavement list, and sending Seth Halvorsen down to Triple-A. It’s September baseball, and every arm counts when you’re trying to lock down a bye.
Kyle Tucker’s Hot Streak Gets Sidelined
While the pitching staff navigates a minefield, the offense is dealing with its own bumps. Right fielder Kyle Tucker, who’s been absolutely scorching hot, sat out Sunday after fouling a pitch off his right knee in Saturday’s 10-4 win. That early exit was called precautionary, and Roberts felt giving him a day off was a no-brainer, especially with Tucker finally “finding his stride after an erratic first season.” And when we say “finding his stride,” we mean lighting it up! Over his past 10 games, Tucker has been batting a ridiculous .429, smashing five homers, racking up eight extra-base hits, and driving in 11 RBIs. The guy has been an absolute force, and losing that kind of production, even for one game, stings.
Roberts is optimistic that Ohtani will be “pain-free” heading into the final week of the regular season, even if he’s not “100%.” The team is pushing hard to secure a bye and dodge that wild-card round, and they desperately need their biggest bat fully unleashed. “I think there’s a difference between discomfort and pain,” Roberts said, clearly trying to manage expectations while remaining positive. When Ohtani eventually gets activated, the hope is he’ll be in the “best physical place he’s been in quite some time.” That Padres series on Tuesday can’t come fast enough, and every Dodgers fan will be holding their breath to see if their superstar is truly ready to rumble.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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