Shohei Ohtani, MLB’s biggest superstar, is on the injured list for the first time since joining the Dodgers in late 2023, bringing new questions about the club’s pursuit of a third consecutive World Series title.
After missing six of the last seven games, the club placed Ohtani on the 15-day injured list late Wednesday and recalled top prospect Josue De Paula from Double-A Tulsa to take his roster spot. Ohtani, a four-time MVP and the league’s top jersey seller, has been battling nagging pain in his left knee and right biceps.
Those maladies have prevented Ohtani from pitching in a game since early July, and blunted his impact as a two-way phenom. More recently, Ohtani has also struggled at the plate, and he has battled just .198 with 34 strikeouts since Aug. 8.
“It’s the right thing to do,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “We tried to kick the can as much as we could.”
Ohtani is eligible to be reinstated on Sept. 23, and will have, at most, five regular-season games before the postseason begins. The Ohtani move also arrived just a day after the Yankees reinstated captain Aaron Judge, perhaps the only true rival to Ohtani among MLB superstars, after a 99-day absence.
Looking Ahead
The Dodgers—who have the National League’s second-best record—remain by far the odds-on betting favorite to win the World Series again. And even with Ohtani’s struggles, the club has gathered strength in recent weeks. Since Aug. 17, Los Angeles is 15–6, and the club just completed a 7-2 homestand that included series sweeps over the Nationals and Reds.
Still, the Dodgers are very well aware that top National League contenders such as the Brewers and Braves are gunning for them. Even when Ohtani returns, the superstar has also acknowledged he would “most likely” not pitch again this season.
“Is it going to be 100%? Probably not,” Roberts said of Ohtani’s condition when he returns. “But I do think with this time that we’re taking now, he’ll be in an adequate spot for the rest of the season beyond.”
Over nearly three years with the Dodgers, Ohtani has been a massive driver of incremental fan interest and revenue across baseball. His expected return for the postseason will be a boon for MLB television rights holder Fox, which will air this year’s National League Division Series and Championship Series, as well as the World Series. NBC and Peacock have exclusive rights to MLB’s Wild Card Series, but as of now, the Dodgers are in position to receive a bye straight to the NLDS.
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