Ohtani sits. The biceps and the pennant do not.

Shohei Ohtani, who has spent three seasons making two-way stardom look like a reasonable job description, was held out as biceps and neck trouble lingered. Managers call it maintenance. September calls it a problem.

Baseball in the last month of the schedule is a study in what a roster will risk. A superstar on the bench is a luxury until the wild card is a game back. The Dodgers will say they are being careful. The standings will not.

Elsewhere, FIFA accused UEFA of a smear campaign over a World Cup commercial plan, and a former Fox sideline voice moved to plead guilty after a hotel fight. The Sports page still has room for the game. The rest of the country does not always.

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