Dodgers Shohei Ohtani could have to play hurt in…
Forget about pitching.
The Dodgers have to brace themselves for the chance that they are going to enter the playoffs with a bodily diminished model of Shohei Ohtani as their designated hitter.
Ohtani’s type in the batter’s box has made that apparent, so a lot so that Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts has deserted the pretense that the accidents that have saved the two-way participant from pitching aren’t affecting his hitting.
Preparing Ohtani for October will probably be Roberts’ No. 1 precedence over the ultimate month of the common season, but what if he’s already past the purpose of no return?
Ohtani has been dealing with issues with his proper biceps for the last few months, and he was shaking that arm during and after his remaining at-bat in the Dodgers’ 10-inning, 8-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday evening.
Of equal, if not larger, concern has to be his throbbing left knee, which has saved him from staying back on pitches and producing energy. Looking as if he was hitting on one leg, Ohtani struck out 4 occasions in the sport.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani strikes out in the tenth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The Cardinals defeated the Dodgers 8-6. Jim Ruymen/UPI/Shutterstock
The postseason begins in about a month. Ohtani may not have enough time to improve the condition of his knee, no matter how many days off Roberts offers him between now and the regular-season finale in San Francisco on Sept. 27.
“Is a day or two, or I mean, shoot, even 10 days, is that going to help get him to be 100%?” Roberts said. “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.”
Decisions made weeks and months in the past by the Dodgers have produced a collection of penalties that can’t be reversed.
Rather than place Ohtani on the injured listing, they permitted him to play with pain. Instead of pushing him to focus on hitting, they supported his efforts to return to the mound.
The wagers had been misplaced. Ohtani hasn’t pitched since July 3, and his accidents have worsened to where he’s now a non-threat in the batter’s box. Over his last 12 video games, he’s 6-for-46 with 19 strikeouts and no home runs.
“Clearly, the swings aren’t who he is,” Roberts said. “Obviously, there’s some compensation.”
The feared slugger who blasted 55 home runs last yr isn’t coming back, at least not this yr.
As Roberts implied, the Dodgers will have to make the best of a unhealthy state of affairs.
Los Angeles Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts during the sport against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via GWN Connect
In addition to determining how a lot of a break Ohtani wants, they are going to have to resolve whether or not he ought to continue his tried pitching comeback. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said earlier this week that he envisioned Ohtani returning to the mound this season.
With or without Ohtani out there to pitch, however, the Dodgers have a rotation that will keep them in every sport and every collection they play. When Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell or Tyler Glasnow are on the mound, video games will probably be low scoring. The Dodgers can win a sport without scoring 10 runs.
That doesn’t make Ohtani’s bat out of date. As many big-name gamers as the Dodgers have in their lineup, they continue to be extraordinarily dependent on Ohtani to create offense.
Roberts sounded resigned to the probability that Ohtani wouldn’t be pain-free in the postseason.
“To expect him to be 100% … I don’t know,” Roberts said.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani returns to the dugout after placing out in the tenth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. The Cardinals defeated the Dodgers 8-6. Jim Ruymen/UPI/Shutterstock
In that case, how Ohtani performs could come down to how a lot discomfort he can take. Whatever his bodily points, Ohtani has performed in 133 of the Dodgers’ 139 video games. He has a high pain tolerance.
“He’s as strong mentally as a player as I’ve been around,” Roberts said.
Perhaps even too strong.
The Dodgers have discovered there are occasions Ohtani has to be protected from himself. They have also discovered his physique has limits.
This expertise needs to be helpful in future seasons, as it could help them create a enjoying schedule that will permit him to keep healthy while enjoying both methods.
But that received’t help them now.
Ohtani is hurt. That’s a drawback Ohtani and the Dodgers will have to discover a means to work around.
Stay up to date with the latest trending topics! Visit our web site daily for the freshest Sports news and content, fastidiously curated to keep you informed.
