4 minSports
Ohtani Set to Return From Injured List as Dodgers Enter Final Week
Shohei Ohtani is expected back in the Dodgers lineup Wednesday after a stint on the injured list, giving Los Angeles a key piece with five games left to find playoff form.
Shohei Ohtani is expected to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup on Wednesday, giving the club a significant boost with only five games remaining in the regular season. The two-way star has been on the injured list, and his reinstatement comes as the Dodgers try to round into playoff form during the final week of the schedule.
The move was set in motion after the Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres, a result that kept the club moving forward while it managed without one of its most productive hitters. Ohtani's return is expected to reshape the top of the lineup, though he will not immediately resume his usual spot at leadoff, according to reports. That adjustment suggests the team is being deliberate about how it reintroduces him to daily game action rather than simply slotting him back into his previous role.
To make room on the roster, the Dodgers optioned outfielder Josue De Paula, a highly regarded young prospect. The decision reflects the roster crunch that comes with activating a player of Ohtani's stature at a point in the season when every available spot carries weight. De Paula's demotion is not a reflection of his long-term standing in the organization but a procedural move tied to the need for immediate major-league production.
Ohtani's absence had left the Dodgers without a central piece of their offensive attack during a stretch when the club was already navigating the usual late-season questions about pitching usage, lineup construction and health. His return does not resolve all of those issues, but it restores a proven run producer to a lineup that will need to be at full strength for the postseason.
The timing is notable. With five games left, the Dodgers have limited opportunity to settle their playoff rotation, finalize bullpen roles and determine how aggressively to deploy their regulars. Ohtani's reintroduction adds another variable: how much he can handle immediately, and whether the team will use him as a designated hitter, in the field, or in some combination as the week unfolds.
For a club with championship expectations, the final week is less about the standings than about establishing rhythm. Ohtani's presence alone does not guarantee that, but it gives the Dodgers a better chance to enter the postseason with the lineup they envisioned. His return also shifts pressure onto opposing pitchers, who must now account for a hitter capable of changing a game with a single swing.
The Dodgers have not yet indicated exactly how they will manage Ohtani's workload over the remaining games. The decision to keep him out of the leadoff spot for now suggests a measured approach, one that prioritizes his health and availability for October over any immediate statistical goals. That caution is consistent with how the organization has handled injuries this season, even as it balances the desire to build momentum.
Ohtani's return also carries implications for the broader roster. De Paula's option gives the club additional flexibility, but it also removes a young bat from the bench at a time when depth matters. The Dodgers will need contributions from throughout the lineup as they close out the regular season and prepare for the playoffs.
For now, the focus is on Wednesday, when Ohtani is expected to be back in uniform and in the lineup. The Dodgers still have unanswered questions about their playoff form, but they will face the final five games with their biggest star back in the fold.
8
