LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani could return to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup as soon as Monday, manager Dave Roberts said, but time is running out for Ohtani to make what Roberts called an “unlikely” return to a big-league mound in 2026.“I think we can all do the math,” Roberts said Sunday afternoon.Ohtani was not in the Dodgers’ lineup for a fourth consecutive game Sunday as he manages injuries to his left knee, right biceps and neck, the longest he’s gone without playing since signing with the Dodgers three seasons ago. The four-time MVP was shut down from physical activity after appearing clearly physically compromised when he last played Wednesday.Is Shohei Ohtani really a 'sit' in fantasy?He has since shown more progress, Roberts said, including going through his typical hitting routine during Saturday’s 6-5 win over the Washington Nationals. If Ohtani gets through Sunday without a setback, Roberts said he could return to the lineup.“Until he’s written in the lineup, we don’t know 100 percent, but I’m hopeful,” Roberts said.Keeping Ohtani healthy as a hitter likely means his season is done as a pitcher. There was already likely not enough time for Ohtani to build up enough to make full-fledged starts in October, but Roberts also downplayed the idea of Ohtani being able to throw an inning at a time as an opener. Ohtani has not thrown since being shut down as a hitter and isn’t expected to resume throwing any time soon.This was supposed to be Ohtani’s first full season as a two-way player since 2023, and it has come with growing pains.Ohtani has not pitched in a big league game since July 3, and each of his physical maladies seemingly popped up just as he was getting ramped up to pitch again late last month. He was expected to pitch as soon as last Sunday against the Detroit Tigers, but those plans were scuttled when he said he did not feel 100 percent after his final bullpen session.His numbers offensively have nosedived as he’s tried to come back as a pitcher. From the time he started throwing bullpen sessions again on Aug. 15, he hit .203 with a .742 OPS, one of his worst stretches as a Dodger. While general manager Brandon Gomes said this week he could not definitively say Ohtani’s struggles are linked to his health, it was obvious Ohtani was playing while compromised, shaking his arm between swings and appearing to not use his lower half to generate power.It is unclear what Ohtani himself feels about his physical state or what his hopes are for the remainder of the season. He has not spoken to reporters since Aug. 17, declining multiple requests over the last 20 days through a Dodgers public relations official.The Dodgers have made it clear this season that Ohtani’s bat is more important than his arm in their quest for a third consecutive World Series title, a reality that was cemented further with the midseason acquisition of Tarik Skubal to add to a projected October rotation that already includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow.Ohtani has remained one of the most productive hitters in the sport this season despite having his worst overall offensive numbers since 2022, hitting .279 with a .906 OPS and 30 home runs this season.