Shohei Ohtani is returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves. Despite battling right arm and left knee injuries, the four-time MVP hopes to overcome a significant late-season slump.
The 11-for-70 slump haunting Ohtani's return
The primary concern for the Los Angeles Dodgers is not just physical health, but the sudden erosion of Shohei Ohtani's offensive dominance. According to the report, Ohtani struggled mightily in his final 18 regular-season games, managing only 11 hits in 70 at-bats. Even after returning from the injured list for the final five games, Ohtani hit just .238, recording one double and one RBI while striking out eight times.
Manager Dave Roberts admitted that Ohtani is not currently at 100 percent. While Roberts expressed hope that the postseason atmosphere would heighten Ohtani's focus, he noted that the team has not seen enough evidence yet to confidently forecast a return to form. Over the last two months, Ohtani's average dipped to .232 with a .745 OPS, a figure Roberts described as a "low bar" given the player's injuries.
A right arm injury that limited time with his daughter
The severity of Ohtani's physical decline became evident during the second half of the season, where he showed visible signs of pain while batting... In a revealing detail shared during a Japanese-language news conference, Shohei Ohtani admitted that his right arm injury was severe enough that he avoided holding his young daughter during his time on the injured list.
While Ohtani has insisted his condition is improving and that recent workouts have been productive, the injuries have already fundamentally altered his role. As the report says, these ailments have robbed Ohtani of his two-way capabilities, leaving him solely as a designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they enter the playoffs.
Live at-bats against Yoshinobu Yamamoto
To regain his timing, Shohei Ohtani has engaged in an unusual training regimen during the Dodgers' bye week. Hitting coach Aaron Bates reported that Ohtani took batting practice on the field multiple times—a rarity for the star—and sent several balls nearly to the outfield scoreboards. This aggressive approach was designed to move past the physical limitations that previously forced him to "cheat" his swing.
Ohtani also testeed his readiness through live action, taking three at-bats against teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto during an intrasquad scrimmage on Wednesday. While media access was restricted during the Tuesday and Wednesday sessions, Bates praised the quality of Ohtani's contact, stating it was some of the best the team had seen all year in terms of exit velocity and movement.
Andrew Friedman's 'on fumes' philosophy for October
The Los Angeles Dodgers are framing Ohtani's heatlh within a broader trend of postseason attrition. president of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman argued that expecting any player to be at full strength in October is unrealistic, claiming that every player in the league is essentially "on fumes" after a grueling season.
This perspective suggests that the Dodgers are betting on talent and adrenaline rather than peak physical condition. This is a precarious strategy, as the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup has struggled against the National League's elite pitching staffs. The team's success against the Atlanta Braves likely depends on whether Ohtani's innate talent can supersede his current physical limitations.
Whether the Braves will pitch around Ohtani to face Mookie Betts
A critical unknown remains regarding how the Atlanta Braves will approach Shohei Ohtani in the batter's box. Dave Roberts noted that the Dodgers are prepared for the possibility that pitchers will avoid Ohtani to force a confrontation with Mookie Betts, provided Ohtani is perceived as a diminished threat.
There are also lingering questions about Ohtani's long-term recovery. The player remains unsure if he will require further treatment during the offseason to address the arm and knee issues. until the first pitch on Saturday afternoon, it remains unclear if Ohtani is a genuine threat or a liability the Braves can simply bypass.
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