Andrew Friedman said on September 22, 2026, that Shohei Ohtani feels significantly better and that the Los Angeles Dodgers will give him as many at-bats as possible over their final five games to rebuild his rhythm and timing before October.
Friedman said the Dodgers expect Ohtani to play in four or five of those games, depending on his workload and how he feels. He noted that Ohtani feels back to where he was earlier in the 2026 season, while the team must monitor his response as game intensity and workload increase.
Friedman stated that the Dodgers prioritize having the right nine players and can adjust the batting order through balance, stacking and run-scoring opportunities. He also said it was the first time in 2026 that the nine players were in the lineup together. Friedman collaborates with Dave Roberts on lineup construction, while Roberts solicits opinions from hitters, the front office and others.
With Ohtani returning, Friedman explained that the Dodgers view Hosway whose at-bats will be displaced by Ohtani. He evaluated Jose's outfield improvement from 2024 or 2025 to 2026 and said Jose showed greater calmness at the plate after gaining experience with the major-league club. Friedman added that the Dodgers plan to continue developing Jose as a corner outfielder and are targeting another major step for him going into 2027.
Friedman acknowledged that Ohtani has minimized physical problems because he believed playing was the best way to help the Dodgers win. He mentioned Freddie Freeman and Clayton Kershaw as players who may also understate how they feel because they want to remain available, and joked that he has much less experience with players who openly overreport minor ailments.
Friedman said Ohtani's two-way role was unprecedented for the Dodgers and that there is no established playbook for managing it. The Dodgers will stay closely connected with Ohtani, continue communicating with him and share information to improve workload management as his usage over the final five games is determined.