Shohei Ohtani remains out for Dodgers after return from 4-game absence amid struggles, lingering injuries

The Los Angeles Dodgers ' star did not play in the team's 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night, one day after he returned from a four-game absence due to several lingering injuries.

Ohtani missed Tuesday's game so that the team can "build him up slowly," manager Dave Roberts said pregame, via the California Post's Jack Harris .

Roberts said after Tuesday's contest that Ohtani would be back in the lineup on Wednesday for their series finale with the Reds. Yet on Wednesday afternoon, the Dodgers reversed course and kept Ohtani out of the lineup. That marked his sixth absence in a seven-game stretch.

Roberts said before Wednesday's game that Ohtani simply hasn't "totally recovered" from Monday's game, and that there was a swing that night that "didn't feel great."

Before Monday, Ohtani missed four games while recovering from left biceps, left knee and neck issues. The reigning National League MVP struck out four times in a game last week and has noticeably struggled lately.

After Monday's game, Ohtani told reporters through an interpreter that he is still dealing with the lingering injuries and that the main concerns are his arm and his knee.

"I've been training a little bit more, doing just supplementary things to be able to make sure that I'm in a good place. I hope to continue to do that to make sure that I'm up to shape," Ohtani said, via The Athletic . "I should have enough experience to be able to address any kinks or injuries or anything like that with the swing. I'm going to use this as an opportunity to add on to the experience that I've had previously and be able to address it regardless."

In Monday's 6-3 win over the Reds , Ohtani struck out twice and walked once. He did not record a hit. Ohtani had just a .241/.322/.422 slash line in August, too; all of those numbers are far below his marks from the previous four months of the season.

Amid his struggles, both Ohtani and the Dodgers have said he almost certainly won't pitch again in 2026. Ohtani told reporters Monday that he would be "focusing on hitting moving forward," something he said was "disappointing."

He has not pitched since July 3, largely due to the left knee injury. In 14 starts this season, he has a 1.79 ERA and an 8-2 record.

With Ohtani out, the Dodgers put Tommy Edman in the leadoff spot and moved Freddie Freeman into the designated hitter role for Tuesday. Will Smith opened the game with a home run, and the Dodgers pulled ahead for good after an RBI single from Teoscar Hernandez in the fifth.

It doesn't sound like Ohtani will be placed on the injured list. But given that he's still a two-way player, he would have to stay there for a minimum of 15 days should the Dodgers go that route. That would put his return right up against the end of the regular season, leaving him little time to ramp up before the playoffs.

Regardless of what happens, Ohtani's status is very much up in the air.

"I think we got through tonight," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Monday's game. "For me, I'll just see how he feels tomorrow."

Even with Ohtani's health issues, the Dodgers hold a double-digit lead in the NL West and sit at 88-57 after Tuesday's win. They've won six straight, too.

But if Ohtani is out for any significant stretch of time or his injuries linger into the postseason, the Dodgers' quest for a third straight World Series title will undoubtedly be much more difficult.

Ohtani's postseason eligibility, Roberts said, is the focus.

"It's not about just tonight ... It's about, 'What can we do to get him to be optimum as we get into the postseason?'" Roberts said, via The Athletic's Katie Woo . "I think that a day here or there is not the worst thing to make sure that his body overall feels as close to 100% as possible."