Shohei Ohtani is not in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup on Thursday due to his health as the team looks to avoid being swept by the St. Louis Cardinals in the series finale.
Ohtani’s injury concerns came to a head in the team’s extra-inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, when he went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts and a walk. It was the first time Ohtani had struck out four times in a game all season.
“Yeah, I saw the same thing that everyone saw,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said when asked if there was any concern based on Ohtani’s performance. “I’m going to talk to him [Wednesday] and really try to figure it out, get with Thomas (Albert), and figure out where he’s at physically. Because yeah, I saw the shaking of the arm. I saw the wincing.
“Clearly, the swings aren’t who he is; obviously, there’s some compensation. So I’m going to talk to him, and then I’ll make a decision about his availability.”
Ohtani has been dealing with lingering left knee soreness and discomfort while trying to navigate his return to the mound. He has also dealt with an issue in his right biceps.
Ohtani hasn’t been able to pitch since early July, but continues to fulfill his duties as the Dodgers’ designated hitter on most nights.
“He definitely doesn’t want to take a day (off),” Roberts said. “He feels that, speaking for him, I know he feels that he needs to post and be in the lineup, and if he’s upright, he should play. I respect that. But if he’s feeling the way that visibly looks, then really not helping anyone. So that’s the conversation that’ll happen.”
Ohtani is hitting just .250/.333/.476 with 49 strikeouts in 164 plate appearances since the All-Star break, a far cry from his usual production. Given his uncharacteristic struggles in the second half, Roberts is hopeful that some time off will give Ohtani a much-needed breather and allow him to come back strong for the stretch run.
“Yeah, is a day or two, or I mean, shoot, even 10 days, is that going to help get him to be 100%? I don’t know the answer. But I think where we’re at, I think he’s just going to have to find a way to make do and do the best he can,” Roberts said.
“But what can I do? Have the conversation, get him off his feet, try to get some strength back, get him feeling better, and then run him out there.”
Will Shohei Ohtani pitch again in 2026?
In addition to figuring out a return plan for Ohtani, the Dodgers also have to determine whether he will pitch again this season. That will largely hinge on how he feels and whether Roberts believes the reward outweighs the risk of overworking the two-way star.
“That’s going to be part of the conversation, yeah,” Roberts said when asked if the Dodgers still plan to have Ohtani pitch again. “Because for him to be healthy, clarity of mind, that’s important. And so whatever we can do to alleviate some of the thoughts that he might have, or concerns or how the body feels, that’s part of my job to kind of relieve him of that. And so, how do you do that? You got to have a conversation.”
Dodgers lineup Thursday
CF: Tommy Edman
SS: Mookie Betts
LF: Teoscar Hernández
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
2B: Miguel Rojas
RF: Kyle Tucker
DH: Alex Call
3B: Kiké Hernández
SP: Tarik Skubal
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