Shohei Ohtani’s Knee Irritation Shuts Down Pitching for Dodgers

The injury has “not gotten better,” and the team is keeping Ohtani on the mound only as a designated hitter while he continues rehab. No timetable for his return to the rotation has been provided.

Heavy

Ohtani, a four-time MVP, last threw a major-league pitch on July 3. He missed the All-Star Game to receive a lubricant injection in the same knee, which has not alleviated the problem for pitching but does not affect his batting. He is batting .290 with 22 home runs and 60 RBIs; his pitching line was 1.79 ERA, 0.95 WHIP in 14 starts.

Sports Illustrated

• July 3 – Ohtani’s last major-league start; injury noted.

Heavy

• July 3 – Roberts told reporters the knee “has not gotten better” and the pitcher will be shut down.

Bleacher Report

• Early July – Roberts said Ohtani might attempt a bullpen throw later in the week, but no specific day was set.

Bleacher Report

• August 3 – MLB trade deadline (relevant to Dodgers’ roster strategy).

FanSided

• Dodgers record: 63-37, leading the NL West by 11½ games.

Sports Illustrated

• Offensive line: .290 BA, .938 OPS, 22 HR, 60 RBI in 91 games.

Bleacher Report

• Pitching line: 1.79 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 95 K in 85.2 IP.

Bleacher Report

Roberts said the decision is intended to keep the Dodgers “out of the woods entirely.” He added that Ohtani will need to resume catch-and-throw work before any further pitching assessment can be made.

Bleacher Report

• “Kind of where we're at, right now, how we're proceeding, I would say that it's going to be some time,” — Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager

The Sun - US

The rotation, already thinned by injuries to Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, now lacks Ohtani’s scheduled starts. Sources reported that the injuries to Ohtani and catcher Will Smith will “not have much impact” on the Dodgers’ trade-deadline strategy. The club appears focused on retaining prospects and avoiding a major acquisition, relying on depth from pitchers such as Dalton Rushing and the projected return of Snell around the August 3 deadline.

Heavy

Roberts expects Ohtani to begin “throwing off the mound” later in the week, but a precise schedule is still pending. The Dodgers will enter the August 3 trade deadline with Ohtani’s pitching status unresolved, while the team continues to monitor his rehab and assess rotation depth for the postseason push.

Heavy