Ohtani out of Dodgers' lineup for 3rd straight day dealing with left knee, right biceps discomfort

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani was not in the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers' game against Washington on Saturday as the two-way star deals with left knee and right biceps discomfort.

Ohtani is out of the lineup for three consecutive days for the first time since joining the Dodgers for the 2024 season on a 10-year, $700 million deal.

Manager Dave Roberts did report some progress, saying Ohtani would do some pregame hitting in the indoor batting cages after not taking swings Thursday or Friday. Roberts did not rule out a pinch-hitting appearance.

The Dodgers are still contemplating a stint on the injured list. If Ohtani goes on the IL by Sunday, the move can be backdated a maximum three days to when he was held out of a game against St. Louis on Thursday.

Ohtani has exclusively been a designated hitter since his last pitching appearance on July 2, but because he is designated as a two-way player, he would have a minimum 15-day IL stint.

“That’d be more of a deterrent,” Roberts said of an IL move.

Ohtani was 7 for 51 (.137) with one home run over his past 13 games. He struck out a season-high four times against the Cardinals on Wednesday.

“I feel that it’s gotten a lot better given his demeanor the last couple days,” Roberts said. “What I have learned about Shohei is when he doesn’t feel well, physically, he gets more short, and it’s just not the same personality, which makes sense. And so I think the last couple days he’s gotten a lot more loose and easygoing.”

After winning the National League MVP Award the past two seasons, Ohtani is batting .279 with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs in 129 games this season. He is also 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts, 85 2/3 innings, as a pitcher.

Tommy Edman was moved to the leadoff spot in the order in place of Ohtani for the third straight game. After the right-handed hitting Alex Call was used as designated hitter the previous two games, Teoscar Hernandez was the DH Saturday.

Dalton Rushing had been scheduled to DH, but was scratched due to elbow discomfort.

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Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani gestures after stealing second base during the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) strikes out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani walks to first base after being hit by a pitch during the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, center, looks on during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/William Liang)

MIAMI (AP) — Michael Conforto homered and singled, Nico Hoerner had three hits and an RBI and the Chicago Cubs beat the Miami Marlins 6-5 on Saturday.

Michael Busch and Miguel Amaya each doubled and singled for the Cubs, who finished with 13 hits. Cubs star outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong singled, walked and drove in a run, while Ian Happ had two hits and two RBIs.

Kyle Stowers and Griffin Conine homered for two of the Marlins’ six hits.

Ryan Rolison (8-1) got the final out in the seventh and first in the eighth for the win. Ryan Zeferjahn pitched the last 1 2/3 innings for his fifth save. After a 3-2 called third strike with two out to Conine in the ninth was overturned on the ABS review, Zeferjahn retired Otto Lopez on a flyout to right.

Cubs starter Javier Assad allowed three runs and three hits over 4 2/3 innings. Recalled from Triple-A Saturday, Assad walked five and struck out three.

Caleb Thielbar relieved Assad with a runner on in the fifth and allowed Conine’s drive into the upper deck in right that got Miami within 5-4.

Busch singled in a run in the sixth to make it 6-4 before Miami narrowed it to one again on Stowers’ solo homer in the seventh.

Conforto’s solo homer and Happ’s two-run single in the third off Marlins starter Ryan Gusto (1-4) in the third put the Cubs ahead 3-0.

Chicago padded the lead on Crow-Armstrong’s RBI single in the fourth.

Cubs RHP Clay Holmes (6-6, 2.09 ERA) was set to oppose RHP Tyler Phillips (4-6, 3.43) on Sunday in the series finale.

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Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ hits a single to bring in two runs during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ runs to first base after hitting a single to bring in two runs during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell talks to referees Ben May and Chris Conroy (98) about a call during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki and Miguel Amaya celebrate after scoring on a single by Ian Happ during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch hits a double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)