The Los Angeles Dodgers officially placed Shohei Ohtani on the injured list on Friday, a corresponding move that also effectively ended pitcher Eric Lauer's season. Lauer was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list, a procedural shift that makes him ineligible to return until after the World Series.
Lauer had been on the 15-day injured list since Sept. 2 with elbow inflammation. His move to the 60-day list clears a spot on the Dodgers' 40-man roster, facilitating the call-up of top prospect Josue De Paula from Double-A for his MLB debut. Lauer's season is effectively over despite manager Dave Roberts' earlier statement that the initial injury didn't seem serious.
Before his injury, Lauer posted a 3.78 ERA in his first 13 outings with the Dodgers. However, a poor performance in his most recent starts precipitated his placement on the injured list.
Ohtani's own injury status remains a point of concern for the Dodgers. While he was given a designation of "biceps inflammation," the team has not provided a specific diagnosis beyond that. Roberts also noted that Ohtani's left knee remains sore. He will be shut down from hitting through at least the weekend as the team focuses on rest before he aims for a targeted return to the lineup on Sept. 23, the earliest he would be eligible to come off the injured list.
"I think there's a good amount of communication going on, which is also what led us to the IL, given how he's felt," Roberts said regarding Ohtani's situation. "And then kind of going forward, take a few days from swinging the bat, and then let's sort of reevaluate in the coming days and see what works."
The Dodgers' pitching depth remains strong despite these absences. Roki Sasaki is nearing a return from a finger blister and could be available as soon as Sunday to start the team's series finale against the Miami Marlins. Edwin Díaz and Kris Bubic are also progressing in their recoveries, with Díaz slated for at least one more minor-league rehab outing before rejoining the team.