Shohei Ohtani will return to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting lineup Wednesday after getting a precautionary night off in Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the move following the club’s sixth consecutive victory, giving Ohtani a quick return after he was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup.
The update was reported by The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya on X as Los Angeles prepares for Wednesday’s series finale and a chance to complete a sweep.
Ohtani’s night off came as the Dodgers continue to manage soreness in his left knee and right biceps. The decision was precautionary as the two-way star works through the physical demands of the final stretch of the season.
Los Angeles still found enough offense without him Tuesday. Teoscar Hernández went 3-for-3 and delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the fifth inning, while Will Smith opened the scoring with a solo home run.
Tarik Skubal also provided a strong performance on the mound, working into the eighth inning while allowing two runs to earn his ninth victory of the season.
Ohtani has remained one of the Dodgers’ most productive hitters despite the recent physical maintenance. Through 130 games, he is batting .277 with a .380 on-base percentage and .522 slugging percentage, along with 30 home runs, 80 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.
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Ohtani is not expected to pitch again this season as the Dodgers continue to prioritize his health, but his bat remains central to their postseason plans.
Los Angeles improved to 88-57 with Tuesday’s win and holds an 10.5-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West. The Dodgers will now turn back to Ohtani as they look to extend their winning streak to seven games.
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