Shohei Ohtani out of Dodgers’ lineup after painful 4-strikeout night

Key Points:

• Shohei Ohtani is not in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting lineup as the team manages his health amid ongoing left knee pain and right biceps soreness, with his status described as "day-to-day" and no current plans to place him on the injured list.
• Ohtani has struggled offensively in recent weeks, hitting .204 with a .704 OPS since beginning a throwing program on August 8, leading to speculation that his attempts to return to pitching may be impacting his overall performance.
• Manager Dave Roberts and GM Brandon Gomes emphasize the priority of preserving Ohtani’s health to maintain his offensive contributions, with Roberts noting that Ohtani visibly appeared compromised during recent games.
• The Dodgers hope a day off will help Ohtani recover physically and mentally, with no decision yet on his availability for upcoming games, while the organization remains committed to keeping him on the active roster.
• The Dodgers are facing a challenging stretch with a sub-.500 record since July 1, making Ohtani’s health and performance critical as they approach the final month of the regular season.