Is Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani returning to lineup Wednesday vs. Reds?

The Los Angeles Dodgers continue their series against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night, with the Shohei Ohtani injury situation again in focus as he prepares to return to the lineup. The latest update brings good news, as manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani will play against the Reds despite lingering physical concerns. Here’s everything we know about Ohtani’s status and his expected return for Los Angeles.

Shohei Ohtani returned to the Dodgers’ lineup for Monday night’s series opener against Cincinnati after missing four games while managing an injury concern, batting leadoff as the designated hitter. However, he was scratched from the lineup for the second game of the series. Los Angeles continued to monitor his condition. The Dodgers had gone 4-0 without him, including a weekend sweep of the Washington Nationals, while showing impressive depth during his absence.

Shohei Ohtani’s status vs. Reds

According to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, Roberts said Ohtani will be in the lineup Wednesday. That gives the Dodgers another chance to settle their offense with the reigning superstar back at the top.

Ohtani continues to put together another huge season. He is slashing .277/.380/.522 with 30 home runs and 80 RBI, fueling Los Angeles’ push toward October. Even after missing time, his power and ability to change a game with one swing remain obvious.

The Dodgers enter the matchup at 88-57 and sit atop the NL West. The Reds, meanwhile, are 69-76 and last in the NL Central. On paper, Los Angeles owns the clear edge, but September baseball can turn strange quickly under the stadium lights.

That makes Ohtani’s availability even more important. The Dodgers have enough talent to survive short absences, but their ceiling rises whenever No. 17 is in the lineup.

So, when it comes to the question of whether Shohei Ohtani is returning to the Dodgers lineup Wednesday vs. the Reds, the answer is yes. Can Ohtani turn his return into another statement night for Los Angeles?

The post Is Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani returning to lineup Wednesday vs. Reds? appeared first on ClutchPoints.