Dave Roberts said on September 25, 2026, that Blake suffered a shoulder issue while warming up for the Los Angeles Dodgers and that “his season’s over” pending imaging.
Roberts explained that the Dodgers will obtain imaging on Blake’s shoulder, although the timing had not been determined. Blake had previously been placed on the injured list with the same shoulder issue, which Roberts referenced as “kind of what landed him on the IL.”
Roberts evaluated Brock Stewart’s abbreviated start as useful because it allowed Stewart to return to the mound, confirm that he was healthy and reduce his rust before the postseason. Roberts said Stewart pitched four innings, noted that Stewart had barely pitched during the regular season and mentioned that Stewart had said he was rusty.
Roberts also cited Stewart’s postseason performance, including “that outing in Milwaukee,” and expects Brock Stewart to raise the bar from his previous postseason performance. Roberts said the shortened outing was fine as Stewart’s final tune-up for the postseason.
Roberts will start Shohei Ohtani in the next game to provide at-bats and reduce rust before the postseason, although he said Ohtani could receive only two at-bats and has approximately 12 to 14 at-bats. Roberts stated that Ohtani’s results had not been as good over the past couple of days, but added that “the bat speed is still everything” and that he had not seen a clear mechanical or health problem. Roberts believes Ohtani needs to attack strikes because “if you don’t swing at strikes, it’s hard to take a good swing when balls are out of the strike zone.” The training staff and hitting staff continue to work with Ohtani.
The Dodgers’ next steps are to obtain imaging for Blake, while Roberts will start Ohtani and use Stewart’s preparation as the club moves toward the postseason.