With ailing Shohei Ohtani questionable, Dodgers forge ahead vs. Nationals

Sep 4, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) leaves the field after the win against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images As Shohei Ohtani moves closer to a possible turn on the injured list, the Los Angeles Dodgers have found ways to win without their superstar. The Dodgers made it two victories in two games without Ohtani on Friday and might be playing a third in a row when they face the Washington Nationals at home Saturday in the middle contest of a three-game series. Ohtani is day-to-day with a sore left knee, sore right biceps and sore neck, but manager Dave Roberts finally admitted that a stint on the injured list is likely. As Ohtani tried to play with his ailments, he hit .128 (5-for-39) with no home runs and no RBIs over his past 12 games and struck out four times on Wednesday. "No, it's not good to have that version of him," Roberts said. "... In five or six or seven days would the old version, the regular version, the normal version of Shohei be there? ... We don't know that answer. Just to kind of kick the can is an option." Alex Call was used in the designated hitter spot in each of the past two games and had a double with a run scored against his former team in Friday's 5-3 victory. Teoscar Hernandez had a two-run double one game after his two-run double gave the Dodgers a 3-2 walk-off victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. The victory even included a rare home run from Kyle Tucker, his first since Aug. 8 and his third in 67 home games. It was his 12th homer of the season after hitting at least 22 home runs in each of the past five seasons. "We still have (a month) left in the season so just feel good going into the playoffs," Tucker said, while electing to focus on team goals instead of personal ones. "Just build overall momentum as a team and carry that into the playoffs." Los Angeles is set to send right-hander Tyler Glasnow (4-0, 2.79 ERA) for his third start since returning from a back ailment. Against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday, he gave up one run on four hits over seven innings to earn the win in a 6-1 game. In eight career appearances (five starts) against Washington, he is 3-1 with a 5.85 ERA. The Nationals will send right-hander Cade Cavalli (12-5, 3.12) to the mound. He will make his 30th start in the first full season of his career, which has come after he returned from Tommy John surgery last year. Cavalli was locked in last Saturday against the Miami Marlins with four no-hit innings but left the outing when he was hit in the right calf with a comebacker. His first career appearance against the Dodgers was never in question. "I didn't want to risk anything compensating with my upper body and putting my arm in a weird position," Cavalli told reporters. "It just felt a little uncomfortable pushing off. Just being more cautious than anything." The Nationals were without catcher Keibert Ruiz on Friday, two days after he left a game against the Atlanta Braves when he was hit in the catcher's mask by a foul ball. He has passed all concussion tests and might be available to play against his former club Saturday. James Wood continues to deliver against the Dodgers. He hit two doubles Friday, including one in the ninth that got the Nationals within 5-3 and brought the tying run to the plate. Wood now has five home runs, three doubles and 12 RBIs against Los Angeles in 10 career games. --Field Level Media