Ohtani out of Dodgers’ lineup for 3rd straight day dealing with left knee, right biceps discomfort

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will miss the team's game against Washington for the third consecutive day on Saturday due to left knee and right biceps discomfort. This marks the first time since joining the Dodgers on a 10-year, $700 million deal in 2024 that Ohtani has been out of the lineup for three straight days. Manager Dave Roberts reported some progress, indicating Ohtani would participate in pregame hitting in the indoor batting cages.

However, Roberts did not rule out a pinch-hitting opportunity. Ohtani has exclusively played as a designated hitter since his last pitching appearance on July 2. Despite this, he is currently listed as a two-way player, which means he would be eligible for a minimum 15-day injured list stint. Ohtani's batting average over his last 13 games is .137, with one home run and a season-high four strikeouts against the Cardinals.

He has batted .279 with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs in 129 games this season, while also pitching 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts.