OHTANI RETURNS TO DODGERS LINEUP AFTER FOUR-DAY ABSENCE

Shohei Ohtani returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup as designated hitter on Monday night following a four-day absence caused by left knee discomfort, right biceps soreness and neck pain. The Dodgers had rested him from both pitching and hitting duties across four consecutive games. Manager Dave Roberts said after Ohtani took batting practice on Saturday that he expected the player to return to his designated hitter role, provided his condition continued to improve. According to one report, Ohtani's recent issues had subsided considerably following the rest period.

Ohtani had not appeared in the lineup since 30 July, and had not hit since going 0-for-4 against the St. Louis Cardinals on the previous Wednesday. According to official figures, his batting average over his last seven games before the break stood at .143, with three walks and no home runs. The 32-year-old had already been sidelined from pitching duties earlier in the season because of left knee problems. According to an MLB analyst, placing Ohtani on the injured list as a two-way player would require a minimum 15-day absence, which could extend into late September and complicate his return to form ahead of the postseason.

One report indicated that Ohtani's pitching future for the remainder of the season remained uncertain. The Dodgers' decision to rest him rather than place him on the injured list reflected a strategy to manage his condition without losing additional playing time as the postseason approached, which the team faces within weeks.