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Shohei Ohtani was held out of the lineup for Thursday’s series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals, per the LA Times. The decision comes one day after Ohtani struck out four times in Wednesday’s loss to the Cardinals.

Ohtani has been playing through multiple injuries down the stretch — biceps soreness, knee issues, and a lingering elbow concern — while also managing his pitching progression as he works back from his own injury history. His recent offensive struggles are part of a larger August-into-September slump that has concerned the team heading into the postseason. The four-strikeout performance Wednesday represented a particularly rough night at the plate. Giving him a breather against a quality Cardinals arm makes sense both for his body and his confidence heading into October.

This is part of a broader pattern we’ve seen Roberts employ: selective rest days for key position players who are dealing with minor bumps or extended stretches of poor timing. With the regular season winding down and playoff positioning largely locked, the calculus shifts from maximizing every win to ensuring guys are healthy and sharp when it matters most. Ohtani will likely return to the lineup soon, but this day off signals the team is actively managing his workload.

Source(s): Staff (Los Angeles Times) | First reported: September 3, 2026 10:16 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers