Ohtani Set to Return From Injured List as Dodgers Enter Final Week
Shohei Ohtani is expected back in the Dodgers lineup Wednesday after a stint on the injured list, giving Los Angeles a key piece with five games left before the playoffs.
Shohei Ohtani is expected to return from the injured list Wednesday, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers their most important bat back with only five games remaining in the regular season. The two-way star was activated ahead of the team's series against the San Diego Padres, though he will not return to his usual spot at the top of the batting order.
The move comes after the Dodgers defeated the Padres, a result that kept the club in position to round into playoff form during the final week. Ohtani's return is the most significant roster development for Los Angeles as it tries to settle its lineup and pitching plans before the postseason begins.
To make room on the active roster, the Dodgers optioned outfielder Josue De Paula. The corresponding move clears a spot for Ohtani while preserving depth in the organization for the weeks ahead.
Ohtani's absence had forced manager Dave Roberts to reshuffle the top of the order and lean more heavily on other hitters. His return restores a middle-of-the-order presence that opposing pitchers must account for, even if he is not leading off immediately.
The decision to keep Ohtani out of the leadoff spot is notable. Throughout the season, he had been the club's primary table-setter, using his speed and on-base ability to create early scoring chances. Moving him down in the order could be a short-term measure to manage his workload or a strategic adjustment designed to maximize run production in the games that remain.
Los Angeles still faces unanswered questions beyond Ohtani's health. The starting rotation, bullpen roles and the composition of the bench are all unsettled with the calendar running short. The final five games will serve as an audition for players competing for postseason roster spots and for roles that could shift based on matchups.
The Dodgers entered the week knowing they needed to sharpen their play on both sides of the ball. The win over San Diego was a step in that direction, but the club has been inconsistent at times, and the return of Ohtani alone will not resolve every concern.
For the Padres, the series represents a chance to play spoiler and to measure themselves against a division rival. San Diego has its own postseason ambitions, and the head-to-head meetings carry added weight as the standings tighten.
Ohtani's return also has implications for how the Dodgers deploy their designated hitter spot. When he is in the lineup, the club gains flexibility to rest other regulars or to use a platoon advantage without losing a premium bat. That flexibility becomes more valuable in October, when every matchup decision is magnified.
The coming days will reveal how close Ohtani is to full strength and whether the Dodgers can find the consistency that has eluded them for stretches of the season. With five games left, there is little time for experimentation, but there is enough time for a talented roster to find its rhythm.
Los Angeles has been here before. The club is accustomed to October expectations, and the final week of the regular season is often about managing health, setting roles and building momentum. Ohtani's return checks one major box. The rest will be answered on the field.
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