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Dodgers game today news has delivered a major boost for Los Angeles, with Shohei Ohtani set to return to the lineup Wednesday after missing time on the injured list. The move comes as the Dodgers enter the final stretch of the regular season and sharpen their roster for the postseason.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Ohtani will be activated on the first day he is eligible. The announcement followed Los Angeles’ impressive 7-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night, a result that added momentum to an already important week.
Dodgers Game Today Gets a Powerful Ohtani Boost
Ohtani was placed on the 15-day injured list Sept. 8 because of lingering pain in his right biceps and left knee. He has since progressed through a carefully managed hitting and running program, giving the Dodgers confidence that he is ready to face major league pitching again.
Before Tuesday’s game, Roberts said Ohtani looked “considerably” healthier than he did several weeks earlier. The manager compared Ohtani’s condition to a scale of one to 10, saying the star had improved from roughly a five to an eight or nine.
That assessment is encouraging for a Dodgers team with championship ambitions. Ohtani will serve only as a hitter for the rest of the season, meaning Los Angeles will focus on his designated hitter role rather than asking him to contribute on the mound.
Ohtani’s Final Regular-Season Test
The plan is for Ohtani to play in all five of the Dodgers’ remaining regular-season games. Those appearances should help him regain timing, confidence and rhythm before the pressure of October baseball arrives.
His return is especially important because his production had dipped before the injury. Ohtani recorded just seven hits and struck out 22 times in his previous 54 at-bats. The Dodgers will hope that regular opportunities against big league pitching can quickly restore the form that made him one of baseball’s most dangerous offensive players.
Ohtani is expected to continue batting leadoff against right-handed pitchers. However, Roberts is also considering a lineup adjustment against left-handers because Mookie Betts has been on a remarkable September run. Entering this week, Betts was hitting .373 with a .468 on-base percentage and a .746 slugging percentage during the month.
- Ohtani returns Wednesday after a 15-day injured list stint.
- He will hit only and will not pitch during the remainder of the season.
- The Dodgers intend to use the final five games to rebuild his timing.
- Mookie Betts could lead off against left-handed pitching.
Dodgers Strengthen Roster Before October
Ohtani was not the only major addition for Los Angeles this week. The Dodgers also activated right-hander Roki Sasaki and center fielder Andy Pages on Tuesday, strengthening both their pitching depth and defensive alignment.
Sasaki had been recovering from a blister suffered during an Aug. 26 start. He returned in relief against San Diego, allowing two hits and striking out two while completing a scoreless inning. His performance gives the Dodgers another possible late-inning option for the playoffs.
Los Angeles could again consider Sasaki for high-leverage situations, including closing games if the matchup and workload are right. His availability adds flexibility to a pitching staff preparing for the demanding October schedule.
Pages, meanwhile, is expected to resume his role as an everyday player in center field. He fractured his left hand Aug. 22 but is now back in action as the Dodgers attempt to finalize their preferred lineup and defensive configuration.
Critical Dodgers Roster Decision Looms
Ohtani’s return creates an intriguing question involving prospect Josue De Paula. The 21-year-old has performed well while temporarily replacing Ohtani at designated hitter, collecting 10 hits and 11 walks in 42 plate appearances.
De Paula also went 2-for-3 with a triple Tuesday night, further strengthening his case for consideration. The Dodgers are weighing whether to keep him as a left-handed bench bat for the postseason or send him down so he can receive at-bats in the Triple-A championship series.
Backup catcher Dalton Rushing is another possibility. Rushing has been limited by an elbow injury that prevents him from throwing and has played only four games since the beginning of September. Roberts acknowledged that placing Rushing into a pinch-hitting role during October could be difficult under those circumstances.
“There’s potential slug with both those guys,” Roberts said, describing the decision as a worthwhile debate. The final choice could depend on health, defensive needs, postseason matchups and how much offensive power the Dodgers want available from the bench.
What to Watch in the Dodgers Game Today
Ohtani’s first at-bats will be the central storyline, but the Dodgers’ broader October preparation deserves attention as well. The club must balance giving key players enough playing time with protecting them from unnecessary strain before the playoffs begin.
Fans will also be watching Betts’ lineup position, Sasaki’s continued workload and Pages’ transition back into everyday action. With the regular season nearly complete, every appearance carries strategic importance.
The Dodgers have added several crucial pieces at the right moment. If Ohtani quickly rediscovers his power, Sasaki settles into a reliable postseason role and Pages provides steady defense, Los Angeles could enter October with a significantly deeper roster.
FAQs About the Dodgers Game Today
When will Shohei Ohtani return to the Dodgers lineup?
Ohtani is scheduled to return Wednesday, the first day he is eligible to come off the 15-day injured list.
Why was Ohtani placed on the injured list?
He was sidelined because of lingering pain in his right biceps and left knee.
Will Ohtani pitch when he returns?
No. Ohtani will serve only as a hitter for the rest of the 2026 season.
What happened in the Dodgers’ latest game?
Los Angeles defeated the San Diego Padres 7-0 on Tuesday night.
Who else returned for the Dodgers?
Roki Sasaki and Andy Pages were also activated from the injured list, giving the Dodgers additional pitching and defensive depth.
