Ohtani Says He Won't Be Fully Healthy for Dodgers' Playoff Run

Shohei Ohtani said he will enter the postseason without being fully healthy, telling reporters through an interpreter Friday that the left knee and right biceps injuries that compromised him over the summer are issues he is "just going to have to manage," according to ESPN. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated the same day that the ailments will likely linger into October, ESPN reported.

The Dodgers open the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday.

What injuries is Ohtani dealing with?

Ohtani's left knee and right biceps are the two issues he and Roberts flagged Friday, per ESPN. The two-way star called his recent workouts "very productive" and said his swing is "in a better place" heading into the series, but he stopped short of saying the underlying injuries are resolved.

How bad did it get before he landed on the injured list?

The knee and biceps problems built through the summer and finally forced Ohtani to the injured list in early September, ESPN reported. In the 14 games before that move, he had seven hits and 22 strikeouts — a stretch ESPN described as part of what pushed the Dodgers to shut him down.

By the numbers

• 14 games before the IL stint in which Ohtani had just seven hits
• 22 strikeouts over that same 14-game span
• 5 regular-season games remained when Ohtani returned from the injured list

How has he looked since coming off the IL?

Ohtani returned with five regular-season games left and was inconsistent, per ESPN, stringing together an encouraging stretch against the San Diego Padres and what the outlet called an overwhelming one against the San Francisco Giants. Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates said Ohtani's rare in-season batting-practice sessions this week were productive, according to ESPN.

What does this mean for the NLDS opener?

Tarik Skubal is set to start Saturday's Game 1 against the Braves, ESPN reported, while Atlanta's pitching plans remain unsettled. ESPN's playoff coverage lists the Dodgers as World Series favorites entering the bracket despite the uncertainty around Ohtani's health.

What to watch

• Whether Ohtani is used as a hitter only, a pitcher only, or both roles during the NLDS against Atlanta
• Any in-game workload limits Roberts places on Ohtani's at-bats or pitching outings tied to the knee or biceps
• Ohtani's performance in the series opener Saturday as a first read on how the injuries are affecting his swing
• Updates from Roberts or Ohtani on injury status ahead of each NLDS game

ESPN's report did not include a specific diagnosis, timetable, or percentage figure for Ohtani's health status beyond his own "manage" comment, and HTT News has not independently verified additional medical detail beyond what ESPN published.

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