Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expects Shohei Ohtani to be healthier and more effective when the 2026 NLDS begins Saturday at Dodger Stadium.
MLB.com’s Sonja Chen reported Tuesday that Roberts and general manager Brandon Gomes both offered encouraging updates on Ohtani during a Zoom call with reporters. The Dodgers have used their first-round bye to give the four-time MVP additional recovery time from lingering right biceps and left knee issues while keeping him on a hitting schedule.
“I feel confident that you're going to see the best version of Shohei of the last two months,” Roberts said. “I know that's sort of a low bar given his injury, but I do think that he's as healthy as he's been in quite some time.”
Ohtani went on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Sept. 8 and returned Sept. 23. Before the IL stint, he hit .198 with 34 strikeouts across 109 plate appearances over 24 games. In his final five regular-season games after returning, he went 5-for-21 with one double, one RBI, one walk and eight strikeouts.
Article Continues BelowRoberts said the 32-year-old superstar will continue to get live at-bats this week, with the Dodgers targeting five to seven before Game 1. Gomes added that Ohtani is “feeling great physically,” while Roberts said the training staff has reported daily improvement.
The Dodgers finished 100-62 and earned the NL’s No. 2 seed. Ohtani ended the regular season batting .275 with an .889 OPS and a team-high 30 home runs.
Los Angeles is still waiting to learn its NLDS opponent, with the winner of the Atlanta Braves-Philadelphia Phillies Wild Card Series set to face the Dodgers. The Dodgers plan to use Ohtani as a hitter only after shutting him down as a pitcher following his July 3 outing. For now, Los Angeles will continue his timing work and expects him in the lineup for Game 1 on Saturday.