Ohtani's Arm & Neck Woes sideline Dodgers Star

Shohei Ohtani returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup on Monday, concluding a four-day hiatus. He had experienced neck and right arm soreness following a swing last Wednesday. This marks the latest in a series of ailments for Ohtani, who has also dealt with left knee and right biceps issues, particularly affecting his pitching. Ohtani has not thrown a baseball in fifteen days, having felt discomfort during a bullpen session on August 28.

Despite the ongoing concerns, the Dodgers have not completely ruled out the possibility of Ohtani pitching again this season, though it appears increasingly unlikely with the playoffs just three weeks away. Manager Dave Roberts stated he is "choosing not to say it's dead" regarding Ohtani's pitching prospects. While Ohtani cannot be stretched out as a traditional starter for the postseason, any contribution from him, given his 1.79 ERA in 14 starts this season, could be valuable.