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Dodgers Not Very Concerned About Shohei Ohtani's Knee Injury
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said his level of concern with two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani's knee injury is "not high," and that he feels good about Ohtani being back in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener versus the Chicago White Sox, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Ohtani first felt something in his knee/hamstring area after a stolen base attempt on what ended up being a foul ball earlier in Thursday's win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Roberts said the decision to pull Ohtani from the game early was him being proactive. The Dodgers will see how the four-time MVP feels on Friday, but the expectation is that he'll be available to play. Before leaving the eventual 8-6 win, the Japanese superstar went 2-for-2 at the plate with his 13th home run of the year, two runs scored, and two walks to boost his season average to .305 and his OPS to .964. Ohtani got off to a slow start offensively by his standards to begin 2026, but he has rebounded nicely and continues to be one of the best hitters in the game.
Source: The California Post - Jack Harris
Source: The California Post - Jack Harris
Shohei Ohtani Exits With Knee Inflammation
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee) was forced to make an early exit from Thursday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. Ohtani exited the game in the top of the seventh inning due to left knee inflammation. Before leaving the game, Ohtani was 2-for-2 at the plate with a home run, one RBI, and two walks. Santiago Espinal took over the designated hitter spot for Ohtani for the rest of this game. Ohtani did have left knee surgery in 2019, so it's unclear if that has anything to do with this. The Dodgers should give an update on his status soon. For now, fantasy managers should consider Ohtani as day-to-day until further notice. UPDATE: The California Post's Jack Harris reports that Ohtani's knee injury is not considered serious, and he has a strong chance to be in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the Chicago White Sox.
Source: Kirsten Watson
Source: Kirsten Watson
Shohei Ohtani Won't Play on Thursday
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani won't be in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed on Wednesday that he'll allow Ohtani to empty the tank on Wednesday while serving as the designated hitter and starting pitcher. Ohtani will take a full day off on Thursday before likely returning to the lineup for Friday's series opener versus the Los Angeles Angels. The 31-year-old has been remarkable on the mound lately and is hitting nearly .400 at the plate over his last 10 games. The two-way star has earned a day off to rest and recover.
Source: Bill Plunkett
Source: Bill Plunkett
Teoscar Hernandez Expects to Miss a Month, Wants to Come Back Fully Healthy
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (hamstring) told Sonja Chen of MLB.com that he expects to miss about a month while he recovers from his hamstring strain. "He'd like to be back sooner than that, but he also understands the importance of coming back the right way so that it doesn't linger into the rest of the season," Chen wrote. We can appreciate the fact that Hernandez wants to put his injury behind him and return once he's 100% healthy, even if that means his injured list stint lasts until late June or early July. The 33-year-old is rostered in 76% of fantasy baseball leagues, so coming back healthy will benefit his fantasy managers if he's able to continue producing at a high level. Prior to the injury, he was slashing .276/.348/.436 with seven home runs, a 9.3% walk rate, a 27.0% strikeout rate, and 122 wRC+. He currently ranks #34 among outfielders in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball redraft rankings for 2026.
Source: Sonja Chen
Source: Sonja Chen
Shohei Ohtani Homers, Throws Six Hitless Innings Against Rockies
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani showed why he is baseball's unicorn in Wednesday's 4-1 victory over the division-rival Colorado Rockies, delivering as both a hitter and starting pitcher. At the plate, Ohtani went 1-for-4 and led off the game in the bottom of the first inning with a solo shot to put the Dodgers in the lead. On the mound, he continued his Cy Young-caliber season, tossing six hitless innings (one earned run allowed) while walking four and striking out seven to pick up his fifth win of the season. The 31-year-old four-time MVP didn't have his best control on the mound (he also hit a batter) and threw 56 of his 99 pitches for strikes. Ohtani got the job done nonetheless, and he's now sporting a ridiculous 0.82 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 61:17 K:BB in his 55 innings pitched across nine starts. He only allowed three runs in 25 innings in May. After a brief slump at the plate to begin the year, Ohtani has now gone 18-for-47 (.383) with three home runs and 14 RBI in his last 13 games. You can't keep the Japanese sensation down for long. Ohtani is a freak of nature and a must-start anytime he's in the lineup or toeing the rubber.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Shohei Ohtani Expected to Start on Wednesday
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani's (hand) removal from Tuesday's win over the Colorado Rockies after taking a pitch off his pitching hand was precautionary, manager Dave Roberts told Katie Woo of The Athletic. He is expected to make his start on Wednesday, and no imaging was required. However, it's to be determined if Ohtani will also serve as the designated hitter. Ohtani went 0-for-2 and was hit by a pitch in Tuesday's 15-6 drubbing of the last-place Rockies and was pulled after being hit on the hand in the fourth inning. Despite the injury scare, fantasy managers should keep Ohtani in their starting lineups for Wednesday's action against the Rockies. The 31-year-old four-time MVP and five-time All-Star has been better as a pitcher than a hitter in 2026 going 4-2 with a stingy 0.73 ERA (2.38 FIP) and 0.84 WHIP with 54 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 49 innings across his eight starts. He should also be a must-start in traditional fantasy leagues if he's in the batting order as the DH. The Rockies as a team rank 22nd in baseball with a .685 OPS.
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
Rays Attempted to Acquire Shohei Ohtani in Potential Blockbuster
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal writes that the Tampa Bay Rays attempted a blockbuster trade to acquire two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani before the 2023 trade deadline, according to people briefed on the conversations. The potential deal would have sent third baseman Junior Caminero to the Los Angeles Angels. The trade obviously didn't go down, with owner Arte Moreno deciding for the second straight year to keep Ohtani, only to lose him in free agency to the crosstown-rival Los Angeles Dodgers four months later. The other prospect who would have been sent to Anaheim in that proposed blockbuster deal was shortstop Carson Williams, who was then a 20-year-old in High-A. Before the 2022 trade deadline, the Angels discussed an Ohtani trade with the San Diego Padres that would have brought them a comparable, or perhaps even better, package than the one the Padres ultimately sent to the Washington Nationals for outfielder Juan Soto. The Dodgers have won back-to-back World Series championships after signing Ohtani to a mega-deal in free agency.
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Source: The Athletic - Ken Rosenthal
Dodgers Planning for Shohei Ohtani to Hit and Pitch on Wednesday
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he is planning for starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani to both hit and pitch during his start against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. Ohtani has dominated on the mound so far this season, posting a 3-2 record with a 0.82 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts across 44 innings (seven starts). However, the 31-year-old hasn't quite performed to his usual elite standard at the plate, as he entered play on Monday hitting .258/.385/.454 with seven home runs, 24 RBI, 30 runs scored, and six stolen bases across 201 plate appearances. The Dodgers have given Ohtani days off at the plate when he's been on the mound, but it appears as though the team will have him do both against San Diego.
Source: ESPN - Alden Gonzalez
Source: ESPN - Alden Gonzalez
Shohei Ohtani Drives in Five, Already Turning Things Around?
Los Angeles Dodger two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani received a couple of days of rest as the team's designated hitter earlier this week after a slow start to the 2026 season by his standards, and it already appears to be paying off. Out of his usual leadoff spot on Saturday night in the Freeway Series against his old team, the Los Angeles Angels, Ohtani went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, a triple, five RBI, two walks, two runs scored, and a stolen base in a 15-2 drubbing of the Angels. Since taking both Wednesday and Thursday off from hitting, he has gone 3-for-8 with three extra-base hits and three walks in his two games against the Halos. The 31-year-old four-time MVP is now slashing .240/.370/.429 with a .799 OPS, seven home runs, 17 RBI, 27 runs scored, and five stolen bases in 154 at-bats in his ninth year in the big leagues. We can't realistically expect him to produce another 50-50 season as a hitter, but his slow start could quickly be forgotten if he continues to produce like he has in the last two games. Fantasy managers need to keep Ohtani in their starting lineups on a daily basis.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Shohei Ohtani Sitting Again as a Hitter in Thursday's Series Finale
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will not be in the starting lineup as a hitter for the second straight day in Thursday's series finale against the division-rival San Francisco Giants, according to MLB.com. Catcher Will Smith will serve as the designated hitter and will bat leadoff, with Dalton Rushing doing the catching for right-hander Emmet Sheehan while hitting seventh against Giants right-hander Landon Roupp. Although Ohtani hit a home run on Tuesday night in a Dodgers loss, he has been struggling offensively for much of the 2026 season, and manager Dave Roberts confirmed earlier this week that he was considering resting the Japanese superstar for multiple days to get his head right. Believe it or not, even the 31-year-old four-time MVP is prone to slumps. He's currently slashing .240/.370/.427 with a .796 OPS, seven home runs, 17 RBI, 27 runs scored, and five steals across 150 at-bats. Ohtani has hit just .150 (6-for-40) with a homer, four RBI, six runs, and a steal in 46 plate appearances across 12 games in May.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Shohei Ohtani Not Hitting for Dodgers on Wednesday
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who is on the mound for Wednesday's contest against the division-rival San Francisco Giants, will take a day off from hitting, according to MLB.com. Teoscar Hernandez is serving as the designated hitter and will bat sixth against Giants left-hander Robbie Ray. Manager Dave Roberts promised earlier this week that Ohtani would be given a day or two to clear his head due to a recent slump, and he could also be rested for Thursday's series finale in L.A. The four-time MVP showed signs of life at the plate in Tuesday's loss to San Fran, going 2-for-4 at the plate with his first home run since April 26. The Japanese superstar hasn't played up to his expectations as a hitter so far in 2026, but fantasy managers shouldn't be too worried just yet. Ohtani is currently hitting .240 (36-for-150) with seven home runs, 17 RBI, 27 runs scored, and five stolen bases in his first 39 games. He's had reverse splits against lefties, going 13-for-44 (.295) against southpaws with three of his seven homers on the year.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Shohei Ohtani Could Sit as the DH for Two Straight Games
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will not be in the starting lineup as the designated hitter for Thursday's series finale against the division-rival San Francisco Giants, and the skipper is leaning towards keeping him out of the lineup as a hitter on Wednesday (his pitching start day). Roberts said Ohtani is in need of a reset. "It might be a good thing to take a little bit of a load off his plate offensively," Roberts said. Could two-way duties finally be catching up to Ohtani? The five-time All-Star and four-time MVP has not been himself at the plate through 38 games in 2026, as he enters Tuesday's action slashing .233/.363/.404 with a .767 OPS, six home runs, 16 RBI, 25 runs scored, and five stolen bases through 180 plate appearances. He's been much worse in 10 games in May, going 4-for-36 (.111) with no homers, three RBI, four runs, a steal, four walks, and 10 K's. The left-handed slugger currently sits in the 72nd percentile in hard-hit rate and is in the 85th percentile in xwOBA, so he will most likely turn it around sooner rather than later.
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
Shohei Ohtani to Get a Day Off From Hitting This Week
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he plans to give two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani a day off from hitting either on Wednesday (when he pitches) against the division-rival San Francisco Giants, or in Thursday's series finale, according to Maddie Lee of The Los Angeles Times. "I think he's just trying to swing out of it," Roberts said, referring to Ohtani's struggles at the plate lately. The four-time MVP took on-field batting practice before Monday's loss to San Fran, which is only the third time he's taken pre-game BP on the field this year. After hitting 50-plus home runs and stealing 79 bases combined in his first two years with the Blue, the 31-year-old Japanese superstar hasn't produced up to his standards offensively in his first 38 games of 2026, slashing .233/.363/.404 with a .767 OPS, six home runs, 16 RBI, five steals, and 25 runs scored across 180 plate appearances. Ohtani has especially struggled since the calendar flipped to May, going 4-for-36 (.111) with no homers, three RBI, four runs, and a steal in 10 games this month.
Source: The Los Angeles Times - Maddie Lee
Source: The Los Angeles Times - Maddie Lee
