Dave Roberts said on September 23, 2026, that Shohei Ohtani looked physically comfortable in his return and would play for the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 24.
Roberts evaluated Ohtani’s at-bats as strong, saying, “I thought at bat quality good. Uh there wasn't any chase.” He also noted that Ohtani had drawn a walk and made hard contact. Ohtani had been affected by biceps inflammation, and Roberts acknowledged, “It's been a while since he's played in a game.”
Roberts explained how improved health can affect a hitter’s approach: “When you feel healthy and strong, then you feel like you can just kind of see the baseball, trust your eyes, and then take your swing.” He added, “Tonight, uh, showed that he's in a good spot physically.”
Roberts stated that Andy’s swing decisions were excellent and described him as one of the Dodgers’ best at-bat takers. Roberts also said the Dodgers got Ray out after four innings, faced five innings from the opposing bullpen, had faced Michael King, and would see Petta on September 24.
Roberts noted that the Dodgers were gathering information on the San Diego Padres because the teams could meet in the postseason, saying, “Certainly, we're playing them recently. We're pretty familiar with these guys.” The Dodgers’ next specific plan is for Ohtani to be in the lineup on September 24.