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Ohtani Won’t Pitch Sunday with Knee, Biceps Issues

8/30/2026

38 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Ohtani Skips Pitch

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Shohei Ohtani will not pitch on Sunday because of lingering injuries.
Roberts said Ohtani is not 100% due to left-knee inflammation and a sore right biceps.
Ohtani, who last pitched July 3, remains the everyday DH, batting .283 with 30 homers and 80 RBIs.
With Ohtani out, Eric Lauer is expected to fill the Dodgers’ fifth starter role.

Summary

Roberts Limits Skubal

Roberts pulled starter Tarik Skubal after six innings and 83 pitches to manage his workload.
Skubal said his first visit to Comerica Park’s clubhouse required navigating unfamiliar tunnels and steps.
Roberts aims to keep starters near a 100-pitch average across three consecutive starts.
Tyler Glasnow (3-0, 3.02 ERA) will start Sunday against Framber Valdez (8-9, 4.36 ERA).

History

Historical Context

Since MLB began officially recording pitch counts in 1999, teams have increasingly capped rookie workloads, a shift that grew from the 1980s emphasis on protecting arms. In 2024, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulled starter Tarik Skubal after 83 pitches and placed Shohei Ohtani on the injured list, illustrating how the long-standing count strategy continues to shape roster decisions.

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Ohtani Skips Pitch

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Shohei Ohtani will not pitch on Sunday because of lingering injuries.
Roberts said Ohtani is not 100% due to left-knee inflammation and a sore right biceps.
Ohtani, who last pitched July 3, remains the everyday DH, batting .283 with 30 homers and 80 RBIs.
With Ohtani out, Eric Lauer is expected to fill the Dodgers’ fifth starter role.

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