Shohei Ohtani is expected to come off the injured list and rejoin the Dodgers’ lineup on Wednesday, a move manager Dave Roberts confirmed on Tuesday. This is a huge development for the two-time defending champion Dodgers, who are eyeing a threepeat and desperately need their superstar fully functional as they gear up for the postseason. Roberts was clear, telling ESPN, “Unless I hear otherwise, he’ll be in the lineup tomorrow.”
Ohtani has been sidelined since September 11, with the stint backdated to September 8, due to right biceps inflammation. This isn’t his only issue this season, either. He was removed from the starting rotation two months prior because of a knee injury, meaning he’s been battling multiple problems through the back half of the year. The Dodgers have smartly shut him down from pitching for the rest of 2026, but getting his bat back in the designated hitter spot is absolutely massive for them. You could definitely see the effects of these injuries in the weeks leading up to his IL trip: Ohtani hit a brutal .122/.295/.184 in his last 13 games, striking out 21 times and failing to hit a single home run. This is a stark contrast to his season totals of .277/.380/.522 (a 146 OPS+), 25 doubles, four triples, 30 homers, 80 RBI, 89 runs, and 11 stolen bases.
Roberts had hinted earlier this month that Ohtani’s injury was minor enough that if it were the playoffs, he would have played through it. The team opted to shut him down to get him as close to 100 percent as possible for October. According to the California Post, Roberts stated, “If he was a 5 before, he’s probably an 8 or 9 now,” adding that Ohtani feels “considerably better.” Assuming he does return Wednesday, Ohtani will have five games to shake off the rust and essentially get a rehab assignment at the big league level. Even better for him, the Dodgers are very likely to clinch a bye, giving him a few more crucial days to recover before the real games begin. The Dodgers have actually gone 9-3 since Ohtani last played, though it’s worth noting they haven’t exactly faced a murderer’s row of opponents during that stretch.
The Dodgers are set to face the Padres on Tuesday night. With Ohtani’s return expected Wednesday, those final five games will be absolutely critical for him to find his rhythm and prove he’s ready to power the Dodgers’ push for a third straight title.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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