Ohtani to Return to Dodgers Lineup Wednesday, Leadoff Spot Undecided

Shohei Ohtani will be activated from the injured list Wednesday after right arm soreness, with manager Dave Roberts weighing his spot atop the order.

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to be activated from the injured list on Wednesday, September 23, according to manager Dave Roberts. Ohtani has been sidelined for a few weeks with soreness in his right arm. Roberts said Ohtani will go straight back into the starting lineup and is expected to hit leadoff, though the manager is considering splitting the top spot with Mookie Betts based on matchups.

Ohtani had struggled at the plate as the leadoff hitter before his absence, while Betts has been one of the team's hottest hitters in recent weeks. That leaves the Japanese star likely needing to show his swing is back before reclaiming the role full time.

The Dodgers had initially benched Ohtani without an IL placement, but after he came back for one game and still looked compromised, they put him on the injured list. His left knee issue and right bicep discomfort have both been tied to his pitching workload.

During the first half of his 15-day stint, Ohtani rested before resuming batting work. He stayed in Los Angeles to train rather than travel on the team's recent road trip. The remaining regular-season games give him a chance to shake off rust ahead of the postseason.