Shohei Ohtani Out of Dodgers Lineup for Second Straight Game

Shohei Ohtani is out of the Dodgers starting lineup for a second consecutive game, per MLB's Sonja Chen, with nagging physical concerns keeping him on the bench.

The absence lands in a stretch that has already been complicated for Ohtani. Per earlier Posterior reporting, he has not pitched since July 3 due to a right knee issue, and the prior day's absence was accompanied by neck and right biceps problems. Whether those same issues are driving this latest scratch has not been specified — the team has not detailed the nature of the current concern beyond the phrase "nagging physical concerns."

What we don't know yet

No timetable has been offered, and the specific ailment behind this second consecutive absence has not been disclosed. Whether this is a continuation of the neck and biceps issues reported a day earlier, or something separate, remains unspecified in the material.

The broader picture

The Dodgers are navigating a late-season roster in some flux. Dalton Rushing was recently activated from the injured list and placed in a bench role, and the club outrighted catcher Ben Rortvedt to Triple-A Oklahoma City after designating him for assignment. Manager Dave Roberts also weighed — and ultimately set aside — a left-field platoon for Teoscar Hernández before opting to keep him in the lineup full-time. Ohtani's availability, or lack of it, is the most prominent thread in that picture.