Shohei Ohtani was back in the Dodgers’ lineup Wednesday night, and the result mattered less than the look of the at-bats. Los Angeles fell 5-1 to the Padres, but Ohtani’s first game after a 15-day injured-list stay offered the club what it wanted most: a healthy, unrestricted swing heading into the final five games of the regular season.
For the first time this season, the Dodgers were able to put their intended nine-man lineup on the field. Ohtani served as the designated hitter and hit second, returning after right biceps discomfort and soreness in his left knee had sent him to the IL on Sept. 9.
Quick facts
- Ohtani returned from a 15-day injured-list absence on Wednesday.
- He went 1-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts in the Dodgers’ 5-1 loss to San Diego.
- His first hit back was a first-inning single to right field.
- Los Angeles has five regular-season games left to rebuild Ohtani’s timing.
- The Dodgers remain one win, or one Braves loss, from securing a top-two National League record and a first-round bye.
Ohtani singled in his first plate appearance and drew a walk in the third. His toughest moment came an inning later, when he struck out on a full-count pitch with the bases loaded and the Dodgers threatening for their biggest rally of the night.
Still, the club was not measuring his return by one missed opportunity. Earlier this month, Ohtani had shown visible discomfort and a swing that appeared compromised. On Wednesday, he moved freely and took full cuts without signs of pain.
Manager Dave Roberts liked the quality of the plate appearances, especially the patience. He said Ohtani did not appear rushed after the layoff, did not expand the zone, and struck the ball with his best authority in that opening at-bat.
Roberts connected that discipline to Ohtani’s physical condition. A hitter who does not feel strong enough can start early or cheat to catch up, Roberts said, while a healthy hitter can track the ball, trust his vision and let the swing work naturally.
The Dodgers’ larger assignment is to get Ohtani enough game repetitions without asking too much of him before October. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the club hopes to give him as many at-bats as possible over the remaining schedule, whether that means all five games or something less based on workload and recovery.
Ohtani’s absence followed an extended effort to manage the aches while keeping his bat in the lineup. Before the IL move, he had gone without an RBI since Aug. 18, the longest RBI drought of his career.
Friedman said the club is still learning how to handle the demands placed on a player doing something no modern roster has regularly asked of anyone. Ohtani’s willingness to play through discomfort is part of his makeup, but it can also make it harder for the Dodgers to get a complete read on how he is feeling.
“Whatever helps the team win” is consistently Ohtani’s answer when the conversation turns to rest or his pitching schedule, Friedman said. The challenge for the organization is staying connected with him and sharing information before a manageable issue becomes something that affects his performance.
There is no established manual for balancing the workload of a two-way star in this setting, Friedman said. The Dodgers, Ohtani and the coaching staff are working through those decisions together as the postseason nears.
Roberts’ focus is straightforward now: get Ohtani ready to play his best baseball when the games turn into October games. Wednesday did not bring a Dodgers win, but it brought a healthier-looking Ohtani back into the daily rhythm of the lineup.
Atlanta’s victory kept Los Angeles from clinching its first-round bye, leaving the Dodgers one win or one Braves defeat away from locking down a top-two seed in the National League.
