Updating a previous report, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts described two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) as day-to-day, and further discussions will determine whether he is available off the bench in Thursday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals or as the designated hitter for Friday's series opener versus the visiting Washington Nationals, according to MLB.com's Sonja Chen. Roberts still views a stint on the injured list as unlikely for Ohtani, "but not impossible." The four-time MVP has not pitched since July 3 due to left-knee and right-biceps injuries, but he has stayed in the lineup as the team's primary DH. The Japanese superstar's health has been declining, though, and he was primarily feeling discomfort in the right biceps and neck areas while striking out four times in Wednesday night's loss to St. Louis, per Roberts. How quickly the 32-year-old returns to the starting lineup as a hitter remains to be seen, but as a pitcher, fantasy managers should not be as hopeful that he will return to the mound in September. Despite playing at less than 100% for a good chunk of the season, Ohtani is still batting .279/.381/.525 overall with a .906 OPS, 30 homers, 80 RBI, 89 runs scored, and 11 steals in 499 at-bats. However, his production has declined over the last month, and he was noticeably wincing after swings on Wednesday evening.

Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) threw a successful bullpen session on Thursday, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. Eovaldi is working his way back slowly from inflammation in his right elbow that landed him on the 15-day injured list on Aug. 10, but he is making progress and should rejoin the Rangers' starting rotation before the end of September, barring a setback. However, time is running out for him to make an impact in fantasy baseball leagues. The 15-year veteran has been solid when healthy in 2026 in his fourth year with the team, going 10-9 with a 4.21 ERA (4.26 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 137 strikeouts and 32 walks in 132 2/3 frames over 22 starts. Despite time running out in the season, Eovaldi is rostered in just over 80% of Yahoo leagues. He has not been quite as good in just four second-half starts, posting a 5.06 ERA with six walks and 17 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Ben Brown (neck) has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season, according to Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports Network. This should not come as a huge surprise, since Brown has been sidelined on the injured list since June with a stress reaction in his neck, something that he has dealt with in the past. The 26-year-old former 33rd-round pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017 will finish his 2026 campaign with a 4-2 record, a sharp 1.85 ERA, a 0.94 WHIP, one save, 65 strikeouts, and 19 walks in 68 innings pitched across 20 appearances (eight starts) for the Cubbies. Brown has good stuff and plenty of potential, but because he has been unable to stay healthy, his future could be as a full-time reliever in 2027 and beyond. In 25 outings (15 starts) last year for Chicago, Brown had a career-worst 5.92 ERA (4.08 FIP) but also 121 strikeouts and 32 walks in 106 1/3 innings pitched. Barring another setback with his neck injury, he should be ready in plenty of time for spring training in 2027, barring a league lockout.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani (knee, biceps) is not in the team's starting lineup for Thursday's game against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals due to ongoing left-knee and right-biceps injuries, per MLB.com. Outfielder Alex Call will serve as the designated hitter and bat eighth against Cardinals left-hander Quinn Mathews. Manager Dave Roberts said it is unlikely that the Dodgers will completely shut Ohtani down and place him on the injured list, but clearly he is not himself at the plate after going hitless in six plate appearances with four strikeouts in Wednesday's loss to St. Louis. In fact, Ohtani hit .241/.322/.472 with a .795 OPS (his lowest of the season) with six homers, three doubles, two triples, 13 RBI, 16 runs, and four steals in 27 games in the month of August, and he has just one hit in 10 plate appearances in two games in September. Ohtani is clearly not himself right now, and he has not made a start as a pitcher since July 3. The Dodgers are holding out hope that the Japanese superstar will pitch again for the team this year, but with only several weeks left in the regular season, he is unlikely to help when it matters most in fantasy. If Ohtani cannot shake his knee and biceps injuries, the Dodgers may be forced to put him on the IL. After all, their primary goal is to have him 100% for the postseason run as the Dodgers look for an unprecedented third straight World Series title.