The Ohtani injury picture is still murky as Shohei Ohtani heads into the Dodgers’ NL Division Series against the Braves, which begins Saturday. The two-way star is not fully healthy, but he will bat leadoff in Game 1, according to CBS Sports.
Ohtani injury: knee and biceps still a concern
Ohtani, 32, has dealt with inflammation and soreness in his left knee and discomfort in his right biceps, according to Bleacher Report. Both problems flared up late in the season.
He went on the injured list in September and returned for the Dodgers’ final five regular-season games. He posted a .666 OPS over his last 29 games before the playoffs, per MLB.com.
Manager Dave Roberts has said Ohtani will be in the lineup. The Dodgers’ No. 2 seed gave him five days of rest before the series opener.
Pitching is off the table
Ohtani has not pitched since July 3, when he left a start against San Diego with the biceps issue. His two-way role is on hold for the postseason, which leaves the Dodgers leaning on their rotation. Left-hander Tarik Skubal will start Game 1 after joining Los Angeles at the trade deadline.
Ohtani’s earlier knee setback already forced the club to pause his pitching during the summer.
Ohtani’s 2026 numbers
Even while compromised, Ohtani hit .275 with 30 home runs and 81 RBIs in 135 games. On the mound, he went 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts before the injuries ended his pitching season.
What’s next for the Dodgers
Los Angeles is chasing a third straight World Series title, but Atlanta won five of the six regular-season meetings between the teams. How Ohtani’s knee and biceps hold up could shape the series.
