Dave Roberts faces backlash as Dodgers shut down Shohei Ohtani after weeks of concern
Ohtani’s knee and biceps issues have finally forced an IL stint, prompting fresh scrutiny of how the club managed his condition
Shohei Ohtani ’s move to the injured list was supposed to calm concern around his health. Instead, it has reopened a larger debate over how the Dodgers handled the weeks leading up to it.
Los Angeles placed Ohtani on the 15-day IL after he missed six of the previous seven games while dealing with discomfort in his left knee and right biceps.
He briefly returned against Cincinnati, went 0-for-3, then experienced renewed arm discomfort and was held out again. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that the Dodgers had tried to delay the move.
“It’s the right thing to do, we tried to kick the bucket as much as we could,” Roberts said. That admission has become a flashpoint for frustrated fans who believe the club should have acted sooner.
Ohtani’s decline made decision harder
The concerns didn't appear overnight. Ohtani had already been shut down from pitching after his July 3 start because of ongoing knee issues. He later received a lubricant injection and skipped the All-Star Game in an attempt to recover.
The Dodgers still believed he could contribute as a designated hitter, but his offensive production eventually began to slide.
Since August 18, Ohtani has hit .130 with a .288 on-base percentage and .241 slugging percentage across 14 games, with one home run and two RBIs.
At various points, he was seen wincing, shaking his arm and appearing uncomfortable at the plate. The Athletic’s Katie Woo even raised the possibility that “maybe Shohei wasn’t as honest with how much discomfort he was in.”
One fan reacted to the IL move by writing: “They should’ve done it a long time ago, and let’s hope there’s no permanent damage.” Another asked: “Wouldn’t it have been better to go on the IL when you declined the All-Star Game?”
Roberts expects Ohtani back before postseason
Despite the backlash, Roberts has tried to make clear that the move is precautionary rather than season-ending.
“I do think that if the playoffs were tomorrow, he’d be in the lineup,” Roberts said. “And so now knowing that there’s got to be some at-bats taken before the playoffs, and he understands that. So I’m pretty confident that he’ll be ready to go on that 15th day.”
Ohtani is eligible to return on September 23, leaving him several games to regain timing before the postseason.
The Dodgers are still in a strong position. At 89-57, they sit second in the National League and remain in line for a first-round bye if they hold that seed.
Josue De Paula has been recalled and is expected to get opportunities at designated hitter while Ohtani is out.
The larger concern isn't whether Los Angeles can survive two weeks without him. It's whether the Dodgers waited too long to protect the player they will need most in October.
