The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a significant decision regarding Shohei Ohtani as the two-way superstar continues to deal with lingering health issues late in the 2026 season.
Ohtani is being placed on the 15-day injured list and will not travel with the Dodgers on their upcoming road trip, a move that comes after he missed six of the team’s previous seven games. The decision gives the star additional time to recover from discomfort involving his left knee and right biceps.
The Dodgers had initially managed Ohtani’s condition on a day-to-day basis, with manager Dave Roberts repeatedly emphasizing the importance of giving him sufficient rest. Ohtani returned to the lineup as the designated hitter earlier this week but was held out again as the club took a cautious approach to his recovery.
The latest decision also comes after Ohtani acknowledged that he most likely will not return to the mound this season. He has not pitched since July 3 because of the ongoing knee issue and said his focus moving forward would be on hitting rather than attempting to resume his pitching comeback.
That represents a major change for the Dodgers, who had hoped Ohtani could contribute as both a hitter and pitcher during the second half of the season. Despite the setback, his 2026 campaign has remained productive. He entered the current stretch with a .277 batting average, 30 home runs and 80 RBIs, while going 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 14 pitching starts.
For the Dodgers, the priority now is keeping Ohtani healthy for the postseason. Los Angeles has continued to win without him, defeating the Cincinnati Reds 14-1 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep and extend its winning streak to seven games.
The Dodgers also appear to have enough offensive depth to manage Ohtani’s absence in the short term. His injury has created an opportunity for top prospect Josue De Paula, who is expected to receive time at designated hitter while Ohtani is sidelined.
With the postseason approaching, the Dodgers’ decision reflects a cautious strategy: give one of baseball’s most important players time to recover rather than risk aggravating the injury. The immediate goal will be to have Ohtani healthy and ready to contribute when Los Angeles begins its playoff push.
Source: sports.yahoo
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