{
  "id": 5452562,
  "title": "Shohei Ohtani gets a night off as his biceps and neck issues linger",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/shohei-ohtani-gets-a-night-off-as-his-biceps-and-neck-issues-linger",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-04T00:35:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/baseball/2026/09/03/shohei-ohtani-gets-a-night-off-as-his-biceps-and-neck-issues-linger"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Shohei Ohtani opted for a day off on Thursday following discomfort he displayed while striking out four times during the Los Angeles Dodgers' 10-inning defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals in the previous game. Manager Dave Roberts informed Ohtani about his absence from the next game in a series after the loss. Ohtani confirmed the issue by texting back an emoji salute. The Dodgers' two-way star admitted that his right biceps and neck were causing him discomfort. Manager Roberts mentioned that Ohtani's symptoms have not improved over time, and the possibility of a stint on the injured list is not entirely ruled out. The manager said he would discuss with Ohtani and team trainers later on Thursday to determine his status for Friday's series opener against Washington. Ohtani hasn't played since July 3 due to persistent pain in his left knee and right biceps. At the plate, he has been hitting .279 after striking out four consecutive times for the first time this season. Prior to his suspension, Ohtani had an impressive pitching record of 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts. He had a 20-pitch bullpen session last Friday but was not included in a potential start at Detroit two days later. The Dodgers are hoping for a fully recovered Ohtani before the World Series in October. Manager Roberts expressed confidence in seeing the player everyone anticipates to see.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Shohei Ohtani took a day off due to biceps and neck discomfort.",
    "Manager Dave Roberts confirmed Ohtani's absence from the next game.",
    "Status for Friday's series opener against Washington remains uncertain."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Ohtani's lingering biceps and neck issues, coupled with a lack of improvement, raise the likelihood of him being placed on the injured list, potentially altering his season trajectory.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}