SAN FRANCISCO - Shohei Ohtani singled in the last game of the Los Angeles Dodgers' regular season on Sunday, but concerns have been raised about his physical condition after he returned from the injured list.
Ohtani hit a ground ball to left field in the third inning and finished 1-for-3 in the Dodgers' 5-1 win in extra innings over the San Francisco Giants.
The 32-year-old started the season as a two-way player for the first time since his elbow surgery in September 2023, but stopped pitching midway through the season and finished with 30 home runs, his lowest total in six years.
In early September, Ohtani was placed on the 15-day injured list partly due to a right-bicep inflammation, before returning to the lineup with several regular season games remaining.
The Dodgers, who are seeking a third straight World Series title, secured the National League West crown with a 100-62 record.
With the Dodgers set to enter the NL Division Series on Saturday, manager Dave Roberts expressed confidence in Ohtani, saying, "I think the main thing is that we feel that he came out of it healthy."
"You just expect the ensuing days he feels even better. So, when you look out to Saturday, I think he'll be in a good spot," Roberts said, according to MLB.com.
