Ohtani Nears Dodgers Return as Rushing and Díaz Sidelined

MLB Ohtani Nears Dodgers Return as Rushing and Díaz Sidelined

By Ben Gale

September 6, 2026 • 9:04 PM EDT

Updated 1 hours ago

Ohtani Nears Dodgers Return as Rushing and Díaz Sidelined

Shohei Ohtani remains on the sidelines for the Los Angeles Dodgers, missing his fourth straight game in Sunday’s series finale against the Washington Nationals. The key news here is that manager Dave Roberts feels optimistic about Ohtani’s quick comeback, potentially slotting him back into the designated hitter spot as early as Monday against the Cincinnati Reds. For anyone wagering on Dodgers games or player props, Ohtani’s status is the needle-mover. If he’s back, the entire lineup gets a jolt—his left knee and right bicep have made him a difficult gamble to trust late this summer, but hearing that he passed his Saturday cage swings without issue matters. If you were worried he could hit the IL, that risk seems to be fading for now.

Let’s be clear: Ohtani’s issues run deeper than just the recent neck soreness that sat him down after an 0-for-4 showing last Wednesday. He’s dealing with multiple nagging injuries (knee, bicep, neck), which is why the Dodgers weighed the injured list—putting him there requires a 15-game absence for two-way players like Shohei, rather than the standard 10. The fact that Dave Roberts is keen to get him back ASAP tells you the club sees a window to push for the top of the NL.

According to Yahoo Sports, Ohtani’s successful return to a full pregame routine and positive feedback from hitting coaches and trainers gave Roberts confidence. The Dodgers plan to manage Ohtani’s workload carefully, monitoring him day by day—even once he’s back in the lineup, don’t expect them to push all-in with his usage just yet.

It’s also important to note that all this talk circles Ohtani’s bat, not his arm. He hasn’t resumed throwing since his latest shutdown on August 28. The reality is, we’re probably not seeing him pitch again in 2026. Roberts didn’t make it official, but he made it pretty plain for anyone who can count the days left in the calendar.

Shohei Ohtani timeline and what’s next

Ohtani missed a fourth consecutive game Sunday, but a Monday return is likely barring more setbacks.
Hitting staff cleared Ohtani after he passed a Saturday batting cage test with no pain.
The team is monitoring his day-to-day workload instead of putting him on the IL.
Pitching remains out of the picture; he hasn’t resumed his throwing program.

Dalton Rushing heads back to IL, Feduccia steps up

While Ohtani’s getting closer, Dalton Rushing is headed in the other direction. The Dodgers sent the 25-year-old catcher back to the IL after elbow pain resurfaced during his throwing regimen. He’d just returned from a partial UCL tear and was being brought along slowly, only swinging as a lefty bat off the bench. On Saturday he tried throwing again, felt pain, and now he’s shut down from catching for the season. Roberts confirmed there’s no new ligament damage, but even conservative use ‘pissed off’ his elbow, so his role is on pause a bit longer.

Once Rushing’s 10 days are up, the plan is for him to work back with a rehab assignment. Until then, Hunter Feduccia takes over his left-handed backup duties. For daily fantasy or futures bettors looking for sneaky value, Feduccia might pop up as a low-cost play, especially if you expect spot starts against righties.

Max Muncy returns after illness scare

Not all the news is dire. Max Muncy was scratched alongside Rushing on Saturday due to illness, but he’s back in as the Sunday DH. Bettors eyeing Dodgers run production can breathe a little easier knowing Muncy is available. He’s still capable of giving your lineup extra pop if you target Dodger runs on the board.

Edwin Díaz takes a step forward

The Dodgers closer, Edwin Díaz, made his first rehab outing with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, tossing a scoreless inning and striking out one batter. He’s almost ready to return from a neck injury, but Roberts isn’t rushing things. Expect at least one more rehab appearance before he’s back on the major league roster. For those tracking saves markets or bullpen reliability on Dodgers props, this cautious approach means you need to stay nimble with your bets.

As Roberts told reporters, “I’m sure Edwin’s gonna want to get back here as soon as possible, but I’m probably more on the ‘Get another one, and then get back with us.'” The manager’s patience signals a focus on ensuring Díaz is 100 percent before high-leverage innings in the stretch run.

Key takeaways for Dodgers bettors

Ohtani is likely to return as DH Monday, but no pitching in sight for 2026.
His status should boost Dodgers’ team totals and props immediately if he’s in the lineup.
Dalton Rushing goes back to the IL and won’t catch again this season.
Hunter Feduccia now fills the lefty backup catcher spot and is a sleeper for daily fantasy.
Max Muncy has recovered from illness and is back in the lineup.
Edwin Díaz is making rehab appearances and is at least one step away from returning as closer.
Bettors should remain cautious with Ohtani’s daily usage until he proves fully healthy.
The Dodgers’ daily lineup will be in flux, so monitor breaking news before locking props or DFS plays.
The bullpen remains in flux with Díaz not quite ready, impacting late-game betting angles.

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