Shohei Ohtani rejoined the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup on Monday for the series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, concluding a four-day absence due to lingering injuries in his left knee and right biceps. The two-way star was in his usual leadoff spot as the designated hitter.
Ohtani's return marked his first game action since last Wednesday, when he showed visible discomfort while batting and recorded a season-worst four strikeouts. He had not experienced pain during recent batting cage sessions and was nearly used as a pinch hitter on Sunday.
The Dodgers opted not to place Ohtani on the injured list, which would have sidelined him for the final weeks of the regular season. While the 32-year-old is unlikely to reach full health before the end of the year, the team believes an IL stint would not significantly alter his availability given the postseason is less than a month away. His health is expected to trend upward as he resumes playing.
Manager Dave Roberts indicated that Ohtani is not expected to pitch again this season. The right-hander has not pitched since early July due to injury issues and is unlikely to build up enough to pitch even one or two innings in the postseason.
The primary focus for the Dodgers is to re-energize Ohtani's bat. He struggled in his final 12 games before his recent break, hitting just 6-for-46. The team hopes that four days of rest will help Ohtani rebound in the stretch run of the season despite a challenging second half marked by injuries.
