Shohei Ohtani was officially placed on the injured list on Friday.

After months of speculation surrounding a plaguing biceps and knee injury, the Dodgers conceded their two-way player isn’t 100%. The California Post’s Dylan Hernandez and Jack Harris discussed the seriousness of Ohtani’s absence with the former stating there’s a possibility the four-time MVP completely misses the playoffs.

“He’s done for the season,” Hernandez said on The Dodgers Post. “[The Dodgers] are just pretending he’s not. He’s done for like all intents and purposes.”

Ohtani hasn’t made a pitching start for the Dodgers since July 3 and has been completely shut down as a hurler. For months now, the two-way star has dealt with multiple injuries that have evidently affected his performance in the batter’s box as well.

Ohtani is just 6-for-52 since late August. That is not a typo.

And so, does Hernandez really believe Ohtani won’t return in 2026?

“I think there’s a decent chance that he won’t. I think that even if he does come back — you’re counting on like a Kirk Gibson type moment…” Hernandez told Harris, who was much more optimistic about Ohtani’s looming return.

“I think it’s possible he doesn’t play in the regular season,” Harris said. “There’s no chance he’s not going to play in the playoffs.”

The Dodgers have been extra cautious with a number of their star players as they nurse injuries throughout the regular season. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are prime examples of the Dodgers’ decision to limit their stars in the regular season in order to be fully healthy in October.

But a different approach was taken with Shohei Ohtani. Whether that was the right choice by the Dodgers remains to be seen.

“With every other player, their MO is to be cautious, is to shut them down, is to play for October. And the fact that they couldn’t do that with the most important player on their team is a failing either of the way they manage him, of the way the two sides work together,” Harris said.

The back-to-back World Series champions have seemingly sustained a self-inflicted wound by their mismanagement of Ohtani. Despite his ongoing struggles at the plate, the Dodgers were reluctant to admit anything was wrong with their two-way star.

Hernandez gave fans a piece of advice as the next few weeks unfold.

“The Dodgers have proven themselves to be horrible sources of information regarding Ohtani,” Hernandez said.

“So, don’t listen to anything that they say. Use your eyes.”