The Dodgers might be getting the biggest bat in baseball back just in time for the season's most important series. Before Sunday's game, manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Shohei Ohtani is "trending in a really good direction" and could return to the lineup during this week's showdown against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.
"We're hopeful," Roberts said. "If he responds the way we expect over the next day or two, you'll see him in there. I'm not going to put a hard date on it, but the Padres series is very much in play."
Classic Roberts hedging. But the signal is loud. The Dodgers won't commit publicly until the lineup card drops, and that's fine. For a team fighting to hold off San Diego in the NL West, the manager's tone is the closest thing to a green light fans have gotten in weeks.
What Roberts Said, Exactly
The key word in Roberts' update is "responds." Ohtani has been ramping up in the cage and on the field, and the team is tracking how his body handles the workload day by day. Nothing here is a guarantee - it's a conditional return tied to how the two-way star feels after each step.
Roberts also made clear the decision won't fall to him alone. The training staff, Ohtani himself, and the front office all have a say. That's how the Dodgers handled Ohtani's workload management all season, and with October baseball on the horizon, there's no reason to expect a different process now.
Here's what matters for fans: the timeline is days, not weeks. If the checkpoints go well, Ohtani is in the lineup against San Diego. If they don't, the team has the cushion of a deep roster and a division lead it has protected all summer.
📊 "Trending in a really good direction" - Roberts' own words, and the strongest public signal yet that Ohtani's return is close, not speculative.
The Padres Angle
This series isn't just another set of games. The Padres have shadowed the Dodgers in the NL West all season, and every head-to-head meeting carries playoff weight. Getting Ohtani back for this particular matchup - with the division race tightening - is exactly the timing the Dodgers have been waiting for.
| Factor | Dodgers | Padres |
|---|---|---|
| Division race | Leading the NL West | Chasing, within striking distance |
| Stakes | Protect home-field advantage | Opportunity to close the gap |
| Timing | Ohtani return possible | Rotation lined up for the series |
The Padres' pitching staff makes Ohtani's presence in the DH slot even more valuable. San Diego has leaned on power arms all year, and having a left-handed bat of Ohtani's caliber changes how opposing managers attack the middle of the Dodgers' order. Without him, the lineup has survived - but it hasn't scared anyone the way it does with him in it.
There's also a psychological layer. A Dodgers team at full strength in late September sends a message to the rest of the National League. A Dodgers team still waiting on its superstar leaves just enough doubt for everyone else.
What Happens Next
Keep your eyes on two things over the next 24 to 48 hours: the Dodgers' official lineup card and any roster move from the front office. Those are the only confirmations that matter. Roberts' comments are the smoke - the lineup card is the fire.
If Ohtani returns against the Padres, expect him to slot back into the DH spot, with the Dodgers managing his at-bats carefully rather than running him out for a full workload immediately. The team has been disciplined about his ramp-up all year. No reason to abandon that plan now, even with a rival in town.
📊 Days, not weeks - the expected decision window on Ohtani's return, per Roberts' update, keeping the Padres series firmly in play.
