Dodgers manager Dave Roberts just dropped a huge update on Shohei Ohtani: the two-way superstar is still on track to be activated from the injured list this Wednesday. Roberts wasn’t just confirming a date, though; he said Ohtani is “significantly better,” even quantifying it by saying Ohtani went from a “5” when he went on the IL to an “8 or 9” now. That’s a massive leap in health, and it changes everything for L.A.’s postseason outlook.
The Return of the MVP Contender
Ohtani hit the 15-day IL on September 11, with the stint backdated to September 8. The move came after two months of battling nagging knee and biceps injuries. The Dodgers made the smart call, giving him two weeks to get right, clearly eyeing a full recovery for the playoffs. If he’s activated as planned, Ohtani will get five regular-season games to shake off any rust and prove he’s truly past the injury bug before the postseason begins. The plan is to ease him back into it, watching how he handles live reps and swings. For now, it sounds like he’ll be focusing solely on hitting through the Dodgers’ playoff run, staying off the mound as a precaution this year.
Ohtani’s Unstoppable Season and the Award Race
Even with those injuries and limited pitching, Ohtani’s season has been absolutely wild. He’s played in 130 games, starting 14 on the mound, and his bat has been doing some serious damage. He’s slashing .277/.380/.522 with 30 homers and 80 RBI. And get this: even with his pitching innings cut short, he’s still a legit MVP finalist. Yeah, Chicago’s Pete Crow-Armstrong might have slightly better hitting stats, but Ohtani’s 8-2 record, a ridiculous 1.79 ERA, and 95 strikeouts in just 85 2/3 innings are just insane. He’s chasing his third straight NL MVP, his fourth MVP of some kind, and his fifth overall. No one in baseball does what this guy does, and he’s not letting a couple of injuries stand in his way.
When Ohtani steps back onto the field Wednesday, he and the Dodgers will be facing off against the San Diego Padres. L.A. has already locked up their playoff spot, but the Padres are in a tight spot, holding a narrow one-game lead in the NL wild-card race. Every game matters for them. With Ohtani back, even if it’s just as a slugger, the Dodgers are going to be even more dangerous as they fine-tune for what’s sure to be a wild postseason ride.
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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