Dodgers sideline Shohei Ohtani again as part of load-management plan
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts sidelined Shohei Ohtani 8 September 2026, saying the move was part of a gradual load-management plan for his knee and arm injuries. Earlier in the week, the club had removed Ohtani from the starting lineup because of lingering knee and biceps soreness, with Roberts stating he was not yet ready to pitch.
On 30 August, Roberts and general manager Brandon Gomes said Ohtani would remain out while they monitored his health, noting no immediate need for an injured-list move. Subsequent reports indicated the team was weighing whether to keep Ohtani in the rotation as the postseason approached, and by mid-season Roberts indicated Ohtani was unlikely to pitch again before the season’s end, expecting him to serve as a designated hitter for the remainder of the year.
