Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is expected to return from the injured list and play against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
However, this return is expected to be limited to batting roles, such as designated hitter, rather than a return as a pitcher.
It is worth examining what a few at-bats at the end of the regular season could mean for Ohtani’s postseason preparation.
3-Line Summary
1. Ohtani is expected to return to the Dodgers on Wednesday
2. Even after returning, he will appear as a hitter, not a pitcher
3. Whether he will bat leadoff has not yet been decided
Outlook for His Return After Right Biceps and Left Knee Issues
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that he expects Ohtani to be included in the starting lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Padres at Dodger Stadium. According to MLB.com, Roberts indicated that he intended to put Ohtani in the lineup “unless he hears otherwise.” This reflects the club’s plan and should be distinguished from an announcement that his actual participation has been confirmed.
Ohtani has played in only 3 games this month, with his last appearance coming on September 7. The club explained that, as issues with his right biceps and left knee worsened, it decided to give him sufficient rest ahead of the postseason. Roberts assessed that if Ohtani’s condition had been a 5 out of 10 at the time, it was now at an 8~9, saying he had improved considerably.
Pitching Will Be Excluded From This Return
Even after returning, Ohtani is expected to appear only as a hitter. MLB.com reported that the process of ramping up the intensity of his pitching workouts again in August coincided with worsening symptoms in his biceps and knee. CBS Sports reported that the Dodgers had decided not to use Ohtani as a pitcher for the remainder of 2026.
Even considering only his hitting, he needs a recovery process. In the 24 games before he was placed on the injured list, Ohtani recorded a batting average of 0.198 and 34 strikeouts. For the season as a whole, he had a team-leading 30 home runs and an OPS of 0.902, but his recent decline in form was behind the decision to rest him. During his time on the injured list, he was unable to hit against live pitchers and instead used batting practice with a coach and a machine that recreated actual pitches.
The Remaining 5 Regular-Season Games Are Preparation Time
MLB.com reported that the Dodgers did not put Ohtani in the starting lineup for 17 of their last 18 games without him, but lost only three times during that span. If Ohtani returns as scheduled, his most direct task will be to regain his feel at the plate over the remaining 5 regular-season games.
The leadoff spot has not yet been decided. Since the Padres’ starter is left-hander Robbie Ray, Roberts said he was considering putting Mookie Betts in the leadoff spot against left-handed starters and having Ohtani bat first against right-handed starters. However, the manager said he needed to think more about the lineup as a whole and had not made a final decision. The key to this return is not a declaration of “normal condition,” but how much game feel Ohtani can recover as a hitter before the postseason.
References
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