Shohei Ohtani might return to lineup soon; Mookie Betts powers Dodgers past Nationals

Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times on Sep 7, 2026

Published in Baseball

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Rain showers eased Sunday evening in time for the Dodgers’ series finale against the Washington Nationals to start on time. And though Shohei Ohtani was out of the lineup for the fourth straight game, manager Dave Roberts gave a promising update.

“[Saturday] was a good day,” Roberts said before the Dodgers’ 7-5 comeback win behind Mookie Betts’ three-run homer. “Came out of it feeling well. So if nothing else changes, or continues to trend, I see him in there [Monday against the Reds].”

Ohtani, who declined multiple requests for comment and has not spoken to reporters since Aug. 17, hit in the batting cage Saturday. Roberts received positive reports from his hitting coaches, training staff and Ohtani about the work and his recovery. Both his right biceps problem, which flared Wednesday, and his left knee injury, have “calmed down” with the time off, Roberts said.

“Just a handful of days ago, where he was at, talking to him the day after, it just felt that a few days could potentially be of benefit,” Roberts said. “Fortunately that’s how it’s played out.”

The Dodgers have not yet officially taken Ohtani’s return to pitching off the table for the season, but it seems likely.

“Not officially,” Roberts said, “but obviously, if you’re looking at the calendar, how much he’s thrown in the last week, I think we can all do the math.”

The calendar is also working against catcher Dalton Rushing’s initial hopes of returning behind the plate.

Rushing returned to the injured list (sprained right elbow) Sunday, after catch play went poorly the day before. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers recalled catcher Eliezer Alfonzo.

An MRI scan showed “more of the same,” according to Roberts. The Dodgers activated Rushing last Tuesday after just shy of a month on the IL.

Rushing had been serving as a left-handed bat off the bench and a designated hitter option with Ohtani out, while also building up on the throwing side.

The plan is for Rushing to shut down swinging for a few days, Roberts said, and then restart a hitting progression that, this time, will include a rehab assignment.

The mixed bag of injury news came before Betts hit a three-run home run into the left-field pavilion in the eighth to help secure a three-game sweep of the Nationals.

Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski made his first major-league start in three weeks after a short IL stint and a move to the bullpen.

He recorded six strikeouts in the first three innings. But he spiraled in the fourth, giving up five consecutive hits — a solo homer, three singles and a two-run double — without recording an out. He exited with the Dodgers trailing 4-1.

Brock Stewart got out of Wrobleski’s jam without further damage. Then the Dodgers tied the score in the fifth, as Max Muncy (three for four) initiated a rally. Teoscar Hernández, Will Smith and Tommy Edman each drove in a run.

The next inning, Bobby Miller made his first major-league appearance since May 2025. He gave up a leadoff triple off the center-field wall, a walk and an intentional walk to load the bases. With the rain coming down again, Miller lost control of a curveball and hit Dylan Crews to bring in the go-ahead run.

He pitched two more innings and didn’t allow another baserunner, helped by right fielder Kyle Tucker, who, in addition to making a sliding catch three innings earlier, robbed Harry Ford of a home run with a spectacular leaping grab in the eighth.

In the bottom of the eighth, Ohtani donned a helmet and elbow guard and waited by the dugout steps with a bat in hand. But after consecutive outs, he took off the gear and headed down the tunnel.

Betts’ blast ensured the Dodgers wouldn’t have to lean on Ohtani to rescue them this time.