Dodgers Bench Shohei Ohtani Again as Injured List Fears Grow
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts admits he is ‘hopeful’ but not confident Shohei Ohtani will avoid a costly stint on the injured list.
The Waiting Game in Chavez Ravine
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers are holding their breath. For the first time all season, Shohei Ohtani sat out back-to-back games. A looming stint on the injured list is now a real, uncomfortable possibility.
Manager Dave Roberts did his best to project calm on Friday. He didn’t quite succeed. His words painted a picture of a franchise navigating a delicate, high-stakes medical crisis.
“Hopeful,” Roberts said when reporters asked if Ohtani could avoid the injured list. “But I wouldn’t say confident. Hopeful. We’ll see.”
The Dodgers managed a 5-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night. But the win felt like a footnote. The real story was developing behind closed doors in the trainer’s room.
Roberts made it clear that Ohtani likely won’t play Saturday either. The team’s medical staff plans to run more tests before making a final decision. If the discomfort persists through the weekend, a shutdown is inevitable.
The Growing List of Ailments
The human body has limits. Even Ohtani, who often seems built of iron and chrome, is showing structural wear. The immediate issue stems from late Wednesday night, when he complained of soreness in his neck and right arm.
But the trouble started before that. Last Friday, Ohtani cut a bullpen session short. He experienced sharp pain in his left knee and right bicep.
He hasn’t thrown off a mound since. The rehabilitation program designed to get him back to two-way duty has ground to a halt. He hasn’t even picked up the weighted training balls he usually uses to keep his shoulder loose.
“Certainly pushes it back,” Roberts admitted when asked about Ohtani’s pitching timeline. The dreams of him pitching in October are fading fast.
By the Numbers: Ohtani’s Late-Season Slide
- Last 51 At-Bats: 7 hits, 20 strikeouts, representing a sudden and steep decline in plate discipline.
- Overall Batting Stats: A stellar .906 OPS and 30 home runs, keeping him firmly in the National League MVP conversation.
- Pitching Record: An 8-2 record with a sparkling 1.79 ERA, though he hasn’t pitched in an official game since July 3.
The $700 Million Dilemma
The Dodgers committed historic resources to bring Ohtani to Southern California. His $700 million contract was designed to secure championships, not just regular-season ticket sales. Now, the front office faces a classic risk-versus-reward scenario.
The playoffs start in three and a half weeks. The Dodgers have a comfortable lead, but they aren’t invincible. They need Ohtani’s bat to anchor a lineup that has occasionally looked sluggish.
But rushing him back could be disastrous. A serious tear or a chronic muscle strain could compromise his availability for 2027 and beyond. The franchise is playing a long game with a short clock.
Ohtani has been cooperative with the benching. He isn’t fighting the manager’s decisions. Still, he hasn’t acknowledged that his physical issues are causing his recent slump at the plate.
His manager is more candid. “What we saw a couple nights ago wasn’t him,” Roberts said. “So, clearly he was not feeling well.”
What Comes Next
The Dodgers are heading into the stretch run with more questions than answers. If Ohtani lands on the injured list, the roster will need to shift. Bench players will have to step up to replicate a fraction of his historic production.
For now, the baseball world waits. Every report from the trainer’s table carries immense weight. In Los Angeles, the autumn weather is warm, but the pressure is freezing cold.
