Los Angeles Dodgers News

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) said it is "disappointing" that he likely will not pitch again this year, but he is focused on hitting the rest of the way, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. "The thing I was more focused on was to make sure that the pitching wouldn't cause the worst-case scenario, which was for me to not be able to play at all," Ohtani said. "I should have enough experience to address any kinks or injuries with the swing. I'm confident my overall performance should be better moving forward." After a four-game absence as the designated hitter due to recurring left-knee and right-biceps injuries, Ohtani returned in the series opener on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds and went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. It seems unlikely that the 32-year-old four-time MVP will land on the injured list in the final month of the regular season, but the Dodgers could choose to rest him more frequently so that he is closer to 100% for the playoffs. Ohtani is hitting .277 (139-for-502) this year with 30 homers, 80 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 11 steals, but it is clear that playing through his knee and biceps injuries has slowed him down offensively of late. He hit .241 (26-for-108) with a .795 OPS in August, and he is 1-for-9 with six strikeouts so far in three games in September.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages (hand) said he has been hitting off a tee the last two days as he starts his swing progression from a broken left hand, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Pages says he is pain-free. When Pages was placed on the 10-day injured list, the Dodgers gave him an estimated timetable of four to five weeks before a potential return. He is just over two weeks removed from the injury and appears to be making progress, but he obviously still has a way to go and probably will not be an option for the Dodgers' lineup again until the postseason in October. With Pages out, utility man Tommy Edman has seen most of the action in center field, with veteran Miguel Rojas and Alex Freeland splitting time at the keystone. Pages was a first-time All-Star in 2026 in his third year in the big leagues with the Dodgers, slashing .272/.338/.458 with a .797 OPS, 21 home runs, 80 RBI, 12 stolen bases, and 72 runs scored in 128 games across 550 plate appearances. If not for his hand injury, Pages likely would have set career highs in most of the major counting-stat categories.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) is serving as the designated hitter and will bat leadoff for the Blue in Monday's series opener against the visiting Cincinnati Reds and right-hander Chase Burns, per MLB.com. It will be Ohtani's first game back as a hitter after missing each of the last four games with more left-knee and right-biceps discomfort. The Dodgers have not used the four-time MVP as a pitcher since July 3, and although it is looking unlikely that he will pitch again in September, the Dodgers' brass is still holding out hope he can be used as a two-way player in the postseason. Manager Dave Roberts might give the six-time All-Star more days off between now and the end of the regular season as the primary DH, but his return on Monday is obviously excellent news for fantasy managers who have him rostered as a hitter. The 32-year-old veteran has not looked like himself offensively of late while playing at less than 100%, but he is still a must-start in all fantasy leagues and is hitting .279/.381/.525 overall with 30 homers, 80 RBI, 89 runs, and 11 steals in 499 at-bats. Ohtani is 1-for-3 with two RBI in just three career at-bats against Burns.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III continues to hit at Triple-A Oklahoma City and completed a very strong month in August, making a promotion to the Dodgers even more possible. Tibbs III launched six homers in 92 August at-bats with 21 RBI and a .326 batting average, to go with 19 runs scored. Tibbs III has been consistently good all season at Triple-A with 28 homers and 98 RBI with a . 298 batting average and 100 runs scored. The left-handed hitter is the No. 7 prospect in the Dodgers system and has a 50-grade hit tool with 55-grade power. At age 23, the Dodgers could determine that Tibbs III is ready for a promotion to the big leagues after such a statistically strong season at Triple-A. Tibbs III is worth a stash in redraft leagues, as his potential is great with his strong overall hitting tools and plus power.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) is officially out for a third straight game on Saturday against the visiting Washington Nationals, according to MLB.com. Catcher Dalton Rushing is serving as the designated hitter and will bat seventh against Nationals right-hander Cade Cavalli. Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 due to recurring left-knee and right-biceps injuries, and now he has been out for the last three games as the team's full-time DH, a first in his three seasons in L.A. The Dodgers and manager Dave Roberts have been hopeful that the 32-year-old four-time MVP will avoid a trip to the injured list, and the skipper revealed that Ohtani will hit in the cage on Saturday. How the six-time All-Star responds "will be telling" regarding a potential IL stint. Fantasy managers should not be holding out hope that Ohtani will pitch again during the month of September, and depending on how he feels after taking swings on Saturday, he could be shut down as a hitter, too, so that he is closer to full health for the start of the playoffs in October. The Japanese superstar has not been himself at the plate lately as he continues to play through multiple injuries, but his overall line still looks quite good in 2026 at .279/.381/.525 with a .906 OPS, 30 home runs, 80 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (finger) threw a side session on Friday with his blistered finger taped up for added protection. The 24-year-old last pitched on August 26, when he suffered from a blister that compromised his production on the mound. Since then, he has thrown multiple times, each time with his blister covered. The next step for him will be to remove the covering and throw to live batters. Once that happens without any setbacks, he will seemingly be ready to return to the Dodgers as either a starter or a long reliever. He is eligible to be activated on September 11, though there has been no talk about whether that is a reasonable target date for his activation.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he does not expect two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) to play on Saturday against the visiting Washington Nationals, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. It would be the first time since Ohtani signed with the Dodgers that he has missed three straight games. "I'll talk to him tonight and then see how he comes in tomorrow," Roberts said. The 32-year-old four-time MVP has not pitched since July 3 due to nagging left-knee and right-biceps injuries, and his biceps injury has been bothering him more as a hitter, so he is expected to take a third straight game off in Game 2 of the series against the Nats. For now, the Dodgers are calling the six-time All-Star day-to-day, but Robert has not ruled out putting Ohtani on the injured list if his injuries continue to linger. Ohtani still has a strong .279/.381/.525 slash line on the season with 30 home runs, 80 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases in 499 at-bats, but he has been in noticeable discomfort lately and hit an un-Ohtani-like .241/.322/.472 with a .795 OPS in 27 games in August. The primary goal right now for the Dodgers is to get him fully healthy for another postseason run in October.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he is "hopeful, but I wouldn't say confident" that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) will avoid a trip to the injured list, according to Maddie Lee of The Los Angeles Times. Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 due to a nagging left-knee injury and a left-biceps issue, and he is sitting out as the designated hitter for a second straight game in Friday's series opener against the visiting Washington Nationals after feeling more discomfort in his biceps during Wednesday's extra-inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The four-time MVP and six-time All-Star is being considered day-to-day for now, but fantasy managers may want to prepare for an extended absence with the postseason coming up. The Dodgers' primary goal is to have Ohtani ready for two-way duties in October. It is much more likely that he will not pitch again until the playoffs. Although he has not looked like his typical dominant self at the plate lately, Ohtani still sports a strong .279/.381/.525 overall slash line with 30 bombs, 80 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases across 499 at-bats in 2026.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) is sitting out of the starting lineup for the second straight game on Friday for the series opener against the visiting Washington Nationals, according to MLB.com. Outfielder Alex Call will serve as the designated hitter again and will bat seventh against Nationals left-hander Jackson Kent. Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 due to recurring left-knee and right-biceps injuries, and until Thursday, the four-time MVP had been serving as the Dodgers' regular DH. But the Japanese superstar has been dealing with more biceps discomfort in recent days, which has prompted L.A. to give him two straight days off. Manager Dave Roberts thinks it is unlikely that Ohtani will land on the injured list, but he is not ruling it out if the injuries continue to linger. The six-time All-Star is still hitting a strong .279/.381/.525 on the year with a .906 OPS, 30 homers, 80 RBI, 89 runs, and 11 stolen bases, but he has not been himself at the plate in recent weeks as he battles through multiple injuries. For now, Ohtani is considered day-to-day. Check back on his status for Saturday's contest against the Nats.

Updating a previous report, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts described two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) as day-to-day, and further discussions will determine whether he is available off the bench in Thursday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals or as the designated hitter for Friday's series opener versus the visiting Washington Nationals, according to MLB.com's Sonja Chen. Roberts still views a stint on the injured list as unlikely for Ohtani, "but not impossible." The four-time MVP has not pitched since July 3 due to left-knee and right-biceps injuries, but he has stayed in the lineup as the team's primary DH. The Japanese superstar's health has been declining, though, and he was primarily feeling discomfort in the right biceps and neck areas while striking out four times in Wednesday night's loss to St. Louis, per Roberts. How quickly the 32-year-old returns to the starting lineup as a hitter remains to be seen, but as a pitcher, fantasy managers should not be as hopeful that he will return to the mound in September. Despite playing at less than 100% for a good chunk of the season, Ohtani is still batting .279/.381/.525 overall with a .906 OPS, 30 homers, 80 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 11 steals in 499 at-bats. However, his production has declined over the last month, and he was noticeably wincing after swings on Wednesday evening.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) is not in the team's starting lineup for Thursday's game against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals due to ongoing left-knee and right-biceps injuries, per MLB.com. Outfielder Alex Call will serve as the designated hitter and bat eighth against Cardinals left-hander Quinn Mathews. Manager Dave Roberts said it is unlikely that the Dodgers will completely shut Ohtani down and place him on the injured list, but clearly he is not himself at the plate after going hitless in six plate appearances with four strikeouts in Wednesday's loss to St. Louis. In fact, Ohtani hit .241/.322/.472 with a .795 OPS (his lowest of the season) with six homers, three doubles, two triples, 13 RBI, 16 runs, and four steals in 27 games in the month of August, and he has just one hit in 10 plate appearances in two games in September. Ohtani is clearly not himself right now, and he has not made a start as a pitcher since July 3. The Dodgers are holding out hope that the Japanese superstar will pitch again for the team this year, but with only several weeks left in the regular season, he is unlikely to help when it matters most in fantasy. If Ohtani cannot shake his knee and biceps injuries, the Dodgers may be forced to put him on the IL. After all, their primary goal is to have him 100% for the postseason run as the Dodgers look for an unprecedented third straight World Series title.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) has not pitched in a game since July 3 against the San Diego Padres due to inflammation in his left knee and occasional flare-ups of right-biceps discomfort, but he has remained in the everyday lineup as the designated hitter. According to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya, manager Dave Roberts said he plans to talk with the four-time MVP and the team's training staff to gauge what is best for Ohtani going forward. The skipper said it is "unlikely" that the Dodgers will completely shut the Japanese superstar down and put him on the injured list, but he also left open the possibility that his stance could change. A day off could be coming for Ohtani, but Roberts does not think that an IL stint would guarantee that Ohtani can get back to 100% this season. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said this week that he still thinks Ohtani can pitch in a game this season, but fantasy managers hoping he can help them in the postseason should not be as optimistic. The reality is that Ohtani's health issues are now affecting him at the plate, as he posted a .795 OPS in August, the lowest mark in any month of his first three seasons with the Dodgers, and his worst since his opening month in the big leagues in 2022. Since Aug. 15, he is hitting .203 with a .742 OPS. In the extra-inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, Ohtani went hitless in six plate appearances with four strikeouts. He is clearly not himself right now due to nagging injuries, so fantasy managers should expect him to see some rest here soon.

The Los Angeles Dodgers do not know when two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) will make another appearance as a pitcher after having ongoing issues with his knee and biceps, and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was non-committal when asked if the Dodgers could reach a point where they would shut Ohtani down entirely as a pitcher, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Ohtani has not started a game on the mound for L.A. since July 3 due to repeated setbacks. "His value offensively is hugely important," manager Dave Roberts noted. "So if throwing potentially cuts into that, that's not worth the squeeze." The skipper said the four-time MVP is not expected to start a game for at least the next week, and his chances of getting built back up to make full-length starts in the playoffs are slim. Friedman continues to hold out hope that the 32-year-old veteran can pitch in the playoffs, but fantasy managers should not be as hopeful that Ohtani can help them in the fantasy playoffs. The six-time All-Star has been great when on the mound in 2026, going 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA (2.60 FIP) and 0.95 WHIP with 95 strikeouts and 26 walks in 85 2/3 innings across 14 starts.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III is experiencing another lull in his season of ups and downs, now just 4-for-26 (.153) over his last eight games at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Despite the slowdown, the left-handed hitter has had a productive season overall, hitting .295 with a .962 OPS, which is the highest OPS among Triple-A players who have yet to make their major league debut. With 27 home runs and average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and barrel rate all coming in at 92nd percentile or better, there is plenty of fantasy-friendly pop in his bat, but the former first-rounder's time is running out on a 2026 MLB debut. With a crowded outfield in the majors and other 40-man options still in Oklahoma City (i.e., Ryan Ward, Alek Thomas), competition is tight. Even so, with the potential to be hitting in a dangerous L.A. lineup, the 23-year-old Tibbs remains a solid stash option for fantasy in hopes that his productive season is rewarded with a debut at some point in the final month.

Across 474 plate appearances entering play on Tuesday, Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy had hit .251/.347/.494 with 26 home runs, 68 RBI, 69 runs scored, and two stolen bases. While the 36-year-old's numbers for the year remain strong, he's run into some struggles of late. Across his last 10 games played dating back to August 18, Muncy has recorded just seven hits and one home run. Muncy has also seen his strikeout rate rise to 28.4% across 137 plate appearances after the All-Star break, after posting a 23.5% strikeout rate across 336 plate appearances in the first half. The Dodgers routinely take Muncy out of the lineup against left-handed starting pitchers, which limits his run production upside for fantasy managers despite his high-end power. In stretches where Los Angeles is facing multiple lefties, fantasy managers may want to take Muncy out of their lineups until he turns things around.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Tuesday that right-handed reliever Edwin Diaz (neck) will likely throw another live bullpen session in the coming week and then head out on a minor-league rehab assignment, according to Jack Harris of The California Post. Diaz has had a disaster of a 2026 season after signing as a big free-agent addition for the Blue in the offseason to serve as their primary closer. The 32-year-old Puerto Rican veteran has only appeared in 16 games and has gone 2-2 with an 11.85 ERA, 2.56 WHIP, seven saves, 19 strikeouts, and 10 walks in 13 2/3 innings pitched. The three-time All-Star has not looked like himself at all and missed most of the season after having surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. It is believed that Diaz's elbow and neck issues stem from a lowered arm slot this year. When Diaz is reinstated from the 15-day injured list, he is expected to be eased back in lower-leverage situations, which means fantasy managers should not expect much from him the rest of the way. Lefty Tanner Scott is the closer to roster in fantasy leagues to close out the 2026 campaign.

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Tuesday that they reinstated left-hander Justin Wrobleski (forearm) from the 15-day injured list. Wrobleski is back with the Dodgers after being placed on the IL on Aug. 16 with inflammation in his left forearm. The 26-year-old southpaw has been a valuable member of L.A.'s starting rotation this year, going 11-5 with a 3.56 ERA (4.24 FIP) and 1.10 WHIP with a career-high 100 strikeouts and 28 walks in 126 1/3 innings pitched across 21 appearances (20 starts) to earn his first All-Star honors. Unfortunately for fantasy managers who have been stashing him, Wrobleski is expected to head to a relief role to close out the regular season, which will strip him of the majority of his appeal. Wrobleski struggled in his last four starts before landing on the shelf, too, allowing 20 runs (19 earned) on 24 hits (11 home runs) while walking seven and striking out 20 in 19 2/3 innings pitched to go 0-3. He is now rostered in under half of Yahoo leagues, with that number likely to continue dropping now that he will be working out of the bullpen.

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced on Tuesday that they activated catchers Will Smith (neck) and Dalton Rushing (elbow) from the injured list on Tuesday. Catcher Ben Rortvedt was designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Smith is finally back from a neck injury that cost him three months, and he went 4-for-16 at the plate with two doubles and a home run in five minor-league rehab games. The Dodgers will likely ease Smith back into the fold with both Rushing and Hunter Feduccia on the roster and capable of splitting time behind the dish. The return of the 31-year-old Smith, a three-time All-Star, definitely makes an already strong Dodgers lineup stronger. He will be looking to turn things around offensively after hitting just .249 (43-for-173) with six home runs, 23 RBI, and 23 runs scored in his first 173 at-bats before he injured his neck. Smith did not look great at the plate earlier this year, but he has the potential to make an impact down the stretch in single-catcher fantasy leagues. He is currently rostered in 69% of Yahoo leagues.

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (neck) is expected to rejoin the team on Tuesday, according to Sonja Chen of MLB.com. Smith has been out since early June due to a neck injury. He began a rehab assignment on August 25 and appears to be on the verge of returning to the big league roster. His return is a welcoming sight for the Dodgers, who have struggled to find consistent production from the catcher spot lately. This season, Smith is slashing .249/.338/.382 with six home runs and 23 RBI across 52 games. It hasn't been a great year for Smith offensively, but he could be worth scooping up off the waiver wire for fantasy managers seeking help at the catcher spot.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect James Tibbs III continues to hit at Triple-A Oklahoma City with six homers and 21 RBI in the month of August while hitting .326 with 30 runs scored. That brings the Triple-A totals this season to 27 homers and 96 RBI this season for Tibbs III with a .295 batting average. With the injury to Andy Pages, that could potentially open the door to the big leagues for Tibbs III and if so, the 23-year-old left-handed hitter is a strong potential addition to fantasy rosters. Tibbs III is the No. 7 overall prospect in the Dodgers' organization and has a 50-grade hit tool with 55-grade power. His statistical output this season is hard to ignore and the Dodgers should look to him as a potential September call-up. Fantasy managers should pay attention because Tibbs III has a high ceiling right off the bat in the big leagues.