Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani was out of the starting lineup for a second straight game on Friday due to biceps, knee, and neck issues. Manager Dave Roberts described Ohtani as day-to-day, saying the team remains "hopeful" he won't need a stint on the injured list. However, Roberts stopped short of expressing confidence, adding, "We'll see." If Ohtani continues to experience discomfort over the weekend, the Dodgers may have no choice but to temporarily shut him down.

The slugger has not thrown a baseball since an abbreviated bullpen session last Friday and has also avoided weighted-ball drills for several days. His pitching progression has been pushed back as a result. Ohtani has not pitched in a game since July 3 and has slumped offensively in recent weeks, going 7-for-51 with 20 strikeouts.

Despite the recent struggles, his overall numbers — a .906 OPS with 30 home runs and an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA as a pitcher — remain strong enough to contend for MVP. With less than four weeks remaining before the start of the playoffs, the Dodgers are growing concerned about Ohtani potentially wearing down at a critical time.