Los Angeles – The Los Angeles Dodgers are planning to have star designated hitter Shohei Ohtani back in the lineup on Monday when they face the Cincinnati Reds. Manager Dave Roberts expressed optimism after Ohtani’s recent rehab work, noting that the player felt “well” following a Saturday session in the indoor batting cage.
Injury update and rehab progress
Ohtani has missed four straight games, sitting out Sunday’s start due to lingering soreness in his left knee and right biceps – issues that have persisted since before the All‑Star break. The team has taken a cautious approach, giving him two consecutive days of complete rest before allowing a light hitting session on Saturday.
“(Saturday) was a good day. Came out of it feeling well,” Roberts said. “If nothing else changes, or continues to trend, I see him in there tomorrow. Today he’s going to go through his work and should be good to go tomorrow.”
Recent performance
Before the injury layoff, Ohtani was 7‑for‑51 (.137) with one home run over his last 13 games. He is currently batting .279 with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs in 129 games, marking his sixth straight season with at least 30 homers. The right‑hander has also excelled on the mound, posting an 8‑2 record with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts covering 85 2/3 innings.
Manager’s outlook
Roberts said Ohtani reported improvement in both the knee and biceps with the extended rest. “Obviously, we were talking about potentially giving him as much time to get right,” Roberts added. “So just pleasantly pleased with the progress. But again, until he’s written in the lineup, we don’t know 100%, but I’m hopeful.”
The odds of Ohtani returning to the mound this season remain slim, given the limited recent workload and the need for further knee recovery. “If you’re looking at the calendar, how much he’s thrown in the last week, I think we can all do the math,” Roberts said.
Other roster moves
In related news, the Dodgers placed catcher Dalton Rushing on the injured list with right elbow discomfort, retroactive to Saturday. The club recalled fellow catcher Eliezer Alfonzo from the minors to provide depth behind the plate.
Dodgers fans will be watching closely on Monday to see if Ohtani’s return adds another offensive boost for the team as they continue their push in the National League West.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
