Shohei Ohtani, MLB’s biggest superstar, is officially on the injured list for the first time since he rocked up to the Dodgers in late 2023. This isn’t just a minor bump, folks; after missing six of his last seven games, the club finally put him on the 15-day IL late Wednesday, and it throws some serious shade on their pursuit of a third straight World Series title. To fill his spot, the Dodgers recalled top prospect Josue De Paula from Double-A Tulsa.
When the Two-Way Phenom Hits a Wall
This move for Ohtani, a four-time MVP and the league’s top jersey seller, isn’t out of nowhere. He’s been battling nagging pain in his left knee and right biceps, which honestly sounds brutal. These maladies have completely taken away his pitching; he hasn’t thrown a single game since early July. And let’s be real, that’s not the two-way phenom we’ve all come to expect. What’s even wilder is how much it’s blunted his bat recently. Since August 8, Ohtani has battled to a dismal .198 with 34 strikeouts. Yikes. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts kept it blunt, saying, “It’s the right thing to do. We tried to kick the can as much as we could.” You gotta respect that honesty.
Dodgers Still Rolling, But What’s Next for Ohtani?
Even with Ohtani struggling and now sidelined, the Dodgers are still absolute juggernauts. They boast the National League’s second-best record and remain the odds-on betting favorite to win the World Series yet again. The team has actually gathered strength in recent weeks, posting a solid 15,6 record since August 17, and just wrapped up a 7-2 homestand that included series sweeps over the Nationals and Reds.
So, when does Ohtani get back? He’s eligible for reinstatement on September 23. That leaves him, at most, five regular-season games before the postseason kicks off. The big question is his condition. He’s already acknowledged he “most likely” won’t pitch again this season, and Roberts isn’t sugarcoating his return to the plate either. “Is it going to be 100%? Probably not,” Roberts said. “But I do think with this time that we’re taking now, he’ll be in an adequate spot for the rest of the season beyond.” Get ready, because even a less-than-100% Ohtani returning for October baseball is going to be massive for MLB’s television rights holder, Fox, who’s got the NLDS, NLCS, and World Series locked down. The Dodgers are in prime position for an NLDS bye, too, which means more Ohtani on the big stage.
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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