[REVISION HISTORY]

Ohtani Returns to Dodgers Lineup as Designated Hitter

Updated 23 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-24 21:56 UTC → 2026-10-08 02:02 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound remains uncertain as he continues to struggle with left knee inflammation and biceps discomfort. Following a bullpen session where he threw approximately 20 pitches, manager Dave Roberts confirmed Ohtani is ‘not 100 percent’ and stated the team scrapped plans for him to pitch against the Detroit Tigers. This physical setback has coincided with a decline in offensive production. As the Dodgers evaluate his status, discussions have intensified regarding whether the team should place Ohtani on the injured list to allow him to focus exclusively on hitting to preserve his health for the postseason. By late September, Ohtani’s recovery has progressed. Following a four-game winning streak that brought the Dodgers to 96 wins, manager Dave Roberts announced that Ohtani is set to return to the lineup for the upcoming series against the San Diego Padres. Ohtani, who has been sidelined since September 8, is expected to participate in the final five games of the regular season primarily as a designated hitter to prepare for the postseason. Roberts noted that Ohtani’s physical condition has improved significantly, describing his current state as an ‘8 or 9’ compared to a ‘5’ prior to his injury stint. On September 22, Ohtani returned to the lineup as a designated hitter following a 15-day stint on the injured list. In his first game back against the Padres, he recorded one hit and one walk in four at-bats. To accommodate his return, the Dodgers optioned prospect Josue De Paula to Triple-A Oklahoma City. ~~While~~ During the ~~team has faced recent offensive challenges, including a 1-5 loss~~ postseason, Ohtani helped the Dodgers advance to the ~~Padres, manager Dave Roberts has praised~~ League Championship Series after defeating the ~~professional discipline and preparation habits~~ Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of ~~Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.~~ the National League Division Series, securing a 3-1 series lead.

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