Ohtani Lands on Injured List for First Time as a Dodger, Clouding Two-Way Plans

Shohei Ohtani has been placed on the 15-day injured list, his first stint on the IL since signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in late 2023, as the club manages injuries to his left knee and right biceps during a pennant race.

Los Angeles recalled top prospect Josue De Paula from Double-A Tulsa to fill the open roster spot. Ohtani, a four-time MVP and the league’s top jersey seller, has not pitched in a game since early July because of the ailments, limiting his two-way impact. His production at the plate has also dipped; he has hit .198 with 34 strikeouts since Aug. 8.

Manager Dave Roberts indicated the club had tried to push through as long as possible. “It’s the right thing to do,” Roberts said. “We tried to kick the can as much as we could.”

Ohtani is eligible to return on Sept. 23, leaving a maximum of five regular-season games before the postseason. He has already indicated he would “most likely” not pitch again this year, meaning the Dodgers will plan around a hitter-only version of their superstar for the playoffs — with Roberts cautioning that he may not be fully at strength when he returns. “Is it going to be 100%? Probably not,” Roberts said.

The move came one day after the Yankees reinstated Aaron Judge, arguably the only peer to Ohtani in star power, from a 99-day absence.

Dodgers Stay in Contention Position

Despite Ohtani’s absence and struggles, Los Angeles holds the National League’s second-best record and has been playing well of late — a 15–6 stretch since Aug. 17, capped by a 7–2 homestand featuring sweeps of the Nationals and Reds. Rivals such as the Brewers and Braves remain in pursuit in the NL picture, though the Dodgers are positioned to earn a bye directly to the NL Division Series.

That positioning carries broadcast implications. Fox will air the NLDS, NLCS, and World Series this year, while NBC’s streaming service Peacock holds exclusive rights to the Wild Card Series. Comcast (CMCSA), the media company behind Peacock, saw its shares trading at $25.05, up 1.64% from a previous close of $24.65, with a market capitalization of roughly $92.5 billion. A Dodgers run straight to the NLDS would keep the sport’s biggest draw on Fox’s postseason slate rather than Comcast’s Wild Card window.

Source: original release

What to watch

• Ohtani’s potential reinstatement on Sept. 23 and his role in the season’s final games
• Whether the Dodgers secure an NL bye to the Division Series
• Any updates on whether Ohtani resumes pitching in the postseason
• Upcoming postseason ratings coverage from broadcast rights holders