The Los Angeles Dodgers placed four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2026, due to lingering left knee soreness and right biceps strain. Manager Dave Roberts recalled top outfield prospect Josue De Paula from Double-A Tulsa to fill the roster spot ahead of Friday’s series opener in Miami.
Shohei Ohtani Lands on Injured List as Dodgers Rest Star for October
The Los Angeles Dodgers are placing Shohei Ohtani on the 15-day injured list for the first time since he joined the organization. Manager Dave Roberts announced the decision late Wednesday night following a 14-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that marked the team’s season-high seventh consecutive win. The move aims to give the two-way star essential recovery time ahead of the postseason as the franchise pursues its third consecutive World Series title.
Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 and has struggled significantly at the plate while battling physical ailments. Over his last 96 plate appearances since August 8, he has batted just .198 with a .689 OPS and 34 strikeouts, collecting only nine at-bats in September. Roberts acknowledged that the club attempted to manage the physical strain without sidelining him before concluding that a formal break was necessary.
The Dodgers previously attempted to manage Ohtani’s discomfort by giving him four consecutive days off last week. When he returned, he went 0-for-3 and reported renewed biceps soreness, forcing the coaching staff to hold him out of the lineup for two additional games before opting for the injured list.
“I think if we look right now, here today, I would love to go back and put him on the IL. But I did feel at that moment in time, we all felt that giving him four days was sufficient. He was agreeable.”
Ohtani will be eligible to return on September 23, leaving him available for the final five games of the regular season. Roberts expressed confidence that the two-week shutdown will provide sufficient recovery for the star designated hitter.
“Let’s get his body feeling well and then slowly ramp back up because now we do have time. I think that if it were a postseason game tomorrow, he would be in the lineup. So now you’re talking about two weeks, 14 days. I feel that’s substantial, and he will be in a much better place than he was today.”
Josue De Paula Makes Rare Double-A Jump to the Major Leagues
To replace Ohtani on the active roster, the Dodgers are promoting top outfield prospect Josue De Paula from Double-A Tulsa. The move marks a significant milestone for the franchise under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
According to reporting from The Athletic, De Paula’s promotion represents the first time in 12 years under Friedman that the Dodgers have called up a position player prospect directly from Double-A, bypassing Triple-A Oklahoma City entirely. The 21-year-old spent his entire age-21 campaign dominating the Texas League, posting a .302/.400/.539 slash line with 26 home runs, 36 doubles, 104 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases across 583 plate appearances.
Evaluators praise his advanced plate discipline and raw power, drawing comparisons to a more athletic, left-handed hitter profile similar to Yordan Alvarez.
De Paula is expected primarily to serve as a designated hitter while also getting defensive repetitions in the outfield. Because he was not previously on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers must make a corresponding roster move ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Miami Marlins to accommodate his contract.
National League Standings and Postseason Outlook
Despite mounting injuries to key contributors—including Freddie Freeman dealing with right knee soreness and catcher Dalton Rushing managing recurring elbow discomfort—the Dodgers maintain the second-best record in the National League at 89-57.
The club holds a four-game lead over the Atlanta Braves and requires a magic number of just six victories to secure their 13th National League West title in 14 seasons. Securing the division crown remains vital as the team targets the No. 2 seed in the National League and a coveted first-round postseason bye.
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