Shohei Ohtani is officially back in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup tonight against the Cincinnati Reds after missing four straight games, but manager Dave Roberts confirmed it is “unlikely” the four-time MVP will pitch again in 2026. This isn’t only a bummer for a guy who was a two-way sensation, it changes the entire dynamic for the Dodgers as they chase a third straight World Series title.
Dodging the IL Bullet (and the Mound)
The Dodgers were clearly playing a risky game to avoid putting Ohtani on the injured list. Roberts himself said on Saturday that a 15-day IL stint, which is required for two-way players instead of the standard 10, would be “more of a deterrent.” Seriously, 15 days for one of the league’s biggest stars? That’s a huge chunk of the season gone. While Los Angeles could have backdated any IL move by three days, it still means a significant absence. The good news is, Ohtani was swinging in the batting cages Saturday after two days off, and reported zero discomfort. Roberts even sounded relieved, noting, “I feel that it’s gotten a lot better given his demeanor the last couple days. What I have learned about Shohei is when he doesn’t feel well, physically, he gets more short, and it’s just not the same personality, which makes sense. And so I think the last couple days he’s gotten a lot more loose and easygoing.” Sounds like the man himself is feeling better, but the pitching arm is staying on the shelf since July 3. That stings.
Hitting Woes and the MVP Race Heats Up
Here’s where it gets real, folks. While Ohtani’s return to the lineup is awesome, his bat has been quieter than a deep sea diver lately. We’re talking a brutal .137 batting average with one home run in his last 13 games. Yeah, you read that right. That kind of slump, especially with him not pitching, has allowed Chicago Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong to completely seize control of the National League MVP race. It is a tough pill to swallow when you consider Ohtani is supposed to be carrying the offense. The Dodgers have a powerhouse rotation with Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow, but they need their six-time All-Star hitter to be elite. This isn’t only about regular season dominance, it’s about October, and Ohtani proved he can be that guy with eight home runs in 17 postseason games last year, taking home the National League Championship Series MVP trophy. He’s got to get that bat going, and fast.
Los Angeles is still crushing it at 86-57, holding a sweet 10-game lead in the NL West and sitting pretty as the No. 2 seed over the Atlanta Braves. But let’s be real, a third straight World Series title isn’t a given, and Ohtani’s health, and especially his hitting performance, is going to be absolutely critical. Can he shake off this hitting slump and be the elite hitter they need without his pitching arm? Dodgers fans will be holding their breath every single at-bat tonight against the Reds, because his season, and their championship aspirations, depend on it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply