Ohtani Lands on Injured List as Dodgers Manage Star’s Health for Postseason Push

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Shohei Ohtani on the 15-day injured list Wednesday night, the first such move for the two-way star since he signed with the club in late 2023. The team recalled top prospect Josue De Paula from Double-A Tulsa to fill the open roster spot.

Ohtani, a four-time MVP and Major League Baseball’s leading jersey seller, has been dealing with discomfort in his left knee and right biceps. The biceps issue has kept him off the mound since early July, limiting his impact as a pitcher. His offensive production has also dipped sharply — he is hitting .198 with 34 strikeouts since Aug. 8.

Manager Dave Roberts indicated the decision was made with the bigger picture in mind. “We tried to kick the can as much as we could,” he said, calling the move the right call. Ohtani is eligible to return on Sept. 23, leaving as many as five regular-season games before the playoffs begin. The superstar has already signaled he would “most likely” not pitch again this season.

The timing of the move is notable for the sport’s broader media landscape. The Dodgers hold the National League’s second-best record and remain heavy favorites among bettors to win a third consecutive World Series, positioning them for a bye directly into the National League Division Series. That series — along with the NL Championship Series and the World Series itself — will air on Fox, a unit of Comcast-rival Fox Corporation’s broadcast network, while Comcast’s NBC and its Peacock streaming service carry exclusive rights to the Wild Card round. A deep Dodgers run with Ohtani in the lineup carries significant audience and revenue implications for the rights holders.

Los Angeles enters the stretch run in strong form regardless. Since Aug. 17, the club has gone 15–6, capped by a 7–2 homestand that featured sweeps of the Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds. Still, challengers such as the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves remain in pursuit in the National League picture.

Ohtani’s absence comes just a day after the New York Yankees welcomed back captain Aaron Judge from a 99-day absence — a reminder of how much star availability shapes the postseason narrative. Roberts acknowledged Ohtani may not be fully healthy when he returns. “Is it going to be 100%? Probably not,” he said. “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.”

What to watch

• Ohtani’s eligibility for reinstatement on Sept. 23 and whether the Dodgers activate him before the regular season ends.
• Final National League standings as the Dodgers, Brewers, and Braves jockey for seeding.
• Los Angeles’ bullpen and rotation usage down the stretch with Ohtani not expected to pitch in the postseason.
• Upcoming postseason broadcast ratings, relevant to MLB’s network partners.

Source: original release