Dodgers Expect Shohei Ohtani Back Wednesday For Final Five Games
Shohei Ohtani’s return to the Dodgers lineup is expected to come Wednesday.
Ohtani is eligible to be activated from the 15-day injured list before the Dodgers’ second game of their series against the San Diego Padres. Although Los Angeles has not officially announced the roster move, the expectation is that Ohtani will be available when he becomes eligible.
The Dodgers also intend to play him throughout the final five games of the regular season, giving him as many at-bats as possible before the postseason begins.
Ohtani Expected To Return When Eligible
Ohtani was placed on the injured list with inflammation in his right biceps after also dealing with discomfort in his left knee. His IL stint was backdated to September 8, making September 23 the earliest date he can return.
The Dodgers have gradually increased his hitting workload during his absence.
Ohtani began by taking swings off a tee before advancing to coach-pitch batting practice. He later faced simulated pitching from the Trajekt machine at full intensity and reportedly responded well to each step.
That progression has the Dodgers expecting him to return Wednesday, but the activation will not become official until the corresponding roster transaction is announced.
Dodgers Want Ohtani To Play Every Remaining Game
The Dodgers are not planning to ease Ohtani back by limiting him to only a few appearances.
Ohtani is expected to play in every remaining regular-season game once activated. If he returns Wednesday as anticipated, that would give him five games to regain his timing against Major League pitching before October.
Although Ohtani has continued hitting during his recovery, simulated work cannot fully recreate the velocity, pitch movement and game situations he will encounter during the postseason.
Playing him regularly would allow Ohtani to accumulate meaningful at-bats while the Dodgers continue competing for one of the National League’s top two seeds and a first-round bye.
The remaining schedule includes two games against San Diego before the Dodgers finish the regular season with three games in San Francisco.
Return Will Be Limited To Hitting
Ohtani’s anticipated activation applies only to his role in the lineup.
The Dodgers do not expect him to pitch again this season as he continues recovering from the right-biceps injury. His immediate focus will be returning as the team’s designated hitter and preparing offensively for the postseason.
Ohtani was batting .277 with a .380 on-base percentage, a .522 slugging percentage, 30 home runs and 80 RBIs when he landed on the injured list.
Getting that production back would immediately strengthen the Dodgers lineup, but the final five games will also give Ohtani an opportunity to sharpen his timing after more than two weeks without a Major League plate appearance.
His return would likely reduce the available at-bats at designated hitter for Josue De Paula, who has received an extended opportunity during Ohtani’s absence. Dave Roberts could still find playing time for De Paula in the corner outfield or off the bench.
Five-Game Runway Before October
The Dodgers have remained careful throughout Ohtani’s recovery and have not announced his activation prematurely.
Wednesday is now the expected return date, but the official transaction will provide the final confirmation.
Once Ohtani is back, the Dodgers intend to keep him in the lineup rather than give him additional rest days. The objective is to provide enough game action for him to enter October prepared for postseason pitching.
Ohtani appears to have cleared the most important steps in his hitting progression. Now the Dodgers expect to give him five regular-season games to complete his preparation for October.