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Shohei Ohtani is out of the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for a third consecutive game as he continues to manage left knee soreness, right biceps discomfort, and neck trouble, per staff at Dodger Blue. The decision to keep Ohtani sidelined extends the health pause that began following his 0-for-4 performance with four strikeouts in an extra-inning loss against the St. Louis Cardinals earlier in the week.

The cascade of injuries plaguing Ohtani at this stage of the season has become alarming. It started with biceps soreness, then left knee issues surfaced during the Cardinals series, and now neck trouble has entered the mix. This isn’t just one lingering problem anymore—it’s multiple physical concerns compounding each other. Three straight games on the bench suggests the medical staff has decided that rest and recovery trump immediate availability. The fact that so many different body parts are bothering him raises legitimate questions about whether Ohtani’s dual role as both hitter and developing pitcher has taken a cumulative toll on his body as we enter September.

For the Dodgers, this extended absence creates real roster and lineup complications. We’ve already shifted into DH rotation mode without him, and the lack of his power bat in the middle of the order is noticeable even as Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernández have stepped up offensively. The organization’s reluctance to rush Ohtani back—even as games matter more with each passing day—indicates the front office believes his long-term health for October is worth the short-term sacrifice now. But at some point, the decision needs to be made: is Ohtani going to the IL, or is he expected to return to action soon? Leaving him in limbo with these multiple injuries isn’t sustainable heading into the final stretch.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: September 5, 2026 9:04 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers