Dodgers sit Shohei Ohtani to 'build him up slowly' after 2-strikeout return

Shohei Ohtani was held out of the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup on Tuesday, September 9, 2026, one day after returning from a four-day injury absence. In his return on Monday, Ohtani went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk as designated hitter in a 6-3 Dodgers win over the Cincinnati Reds. Manager Dave Roberts stated that after consulting with the training staff, the decision was made to bring Ohtani back gradually to manage his nagging injuries.