LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers are managing a late-season roster crunch with Shohei Ohtani placed on the injured list and Freddie Freeman sitting out as the club enters the final stretch of the regular season. The developments come as Los Angeles has been winning more as of late and is working to stay ahead of the Atlanta Braves for the second seed in the National League.
The timing underscores the balance Los Angeles faces between securing postseason positioning and managing health down the stretch. While the club's recent form has trended upward, it is still dealing with availability challenges that have tested depth during the push to the finish.
Holding the second seed in the NL remains central to the Dodgers' closing schedule, with Atlanta directly behind in the standings race. Navigating the final stretch without Ohtani and with Freeman sidelined will require continued contributions across the roster as Los Angeles aims to close the regular season on a strong note.