Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed the Dodgers could move Shohei Ohtani to the IL before the end of the season. Ohtani won't play for the Dodgers yet again on Wednesday, marking the sixth time in the Dodgers' last seven games in which he hasn't made an appearance for LA. The two-way star has dealt with a plethora of injuries since the beginning of July, openly talking about a knee issue and a biceps issue, and they've clearly taken their toll.
"It's not ideal given that it would be 15 days," Roberts said, per Dodgers Nation's Noel Sanchez. "Whatever is best for him is best for us. We'll have to make that decision in time.
"It's his bicep, his arm. Not one specific thing." The Dodgers have done well without Ohtani during their current nine-game home stand, winning all five of their games without him so far. Their success may be tied to his recent results, though, as he's in the midst of an unprecedented slump at the plate.
Ohtani is 6-for-52 since Aug. 18, and none of those six hits were homers. His numbers with the bat this season are still fantastic—he has a .902 OPS through 134 games on the season—but they're certainly a step down from what he showed in his previous two seasons as a Dodger. Ohtani last made a pitching appearance July 3, but his knee injury shut him down just before the All-Star break.
He attempted to ramp back up to speed a couple of times, but a few setbacks kept him off the mound for even longer. The Dodgers, despite having plenty of depth among their starters, miss Ohtani on the mound, as he had been electric before suffering his injury. He has a 1.79 ERA on the season through 85.2 innings, striking out 95 batters while allowing fewer than one baserunner per inning.
His ERA ranks as a career-best, as does his WHIP. The Dodgers would love to have a pitcher of his caliber back before the end of the year, but the likelihood of him pitching again in 2026 is low. The Dodgers will hope they can al least see Ohtani the hitter again before the year's end as they continue their three-peat campaign.
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