The Los Angeles Dodgers will enter the postseason without a fully capable Shohei Ohtani, as the designated hitter has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to persistent right arm and left knee issues. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed Ohtani's placement on the IL before the team's series against the Miami Marlins, indicating that the injuries are unlikely to be fully resolved within the short timeframe remaining in the regular season.
Roberts acknowledged that Ohtani would likely not be 100% for the playoffs. Ohtani himself had spoken about the need to make adjustments to remain offensively productive while managing physical limitations. However, his condition worsened, leading to his inability to take competitive at-bats, as evidenced by an 0-for-3 performance in his last game on Monday.
This situation raises questions about the Dodgers' management of Ohtani's health. General Manager Brandon Gomes had previously downplayed the severity of Ohtani's slump, suggesting there was no evidence linking it to his health. Despite this, Ohtani played in only one game in the week prior to his IL designation, following a four-game absence.
The Dodgers may have missed an opportunity to place Ohtani on the injured list earlier. Position players must spend a minimum of 10 days on the IL, while Ohtani, as a two-way player, requires a 15-day stint. Backdating his IL stint to Tuesday, after he played in visible discomfort on September 2, could have made him eligible for return five days sooner. This potential delay of up to four games could have allowed him to test adjustments necessary for playoff contention.
Ohtani's offensive production has notably declined, with six hits in his last 52 at-bats since August 5. He has hit only one home run outside of Coors Field in Denver during that period. The Dodgers had envisioned Ohtani contributing as a pitcher as well as a hitter, but he was scratched from a scheduled pitching start on August 30. Now, the team faces the challenge of finding offensive production elsewhere, with Ohtani's impact in the postseason expected to be minimal.
