Los Angeles Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani faces an extended absence from the pitching mound as lingering left knee soreness stalls his throwing progression, manager Dave Roberts confirmed ahead of Tuesday night's game against the Seattle Mariners.
Ohtani has been sidelined from pitching duties since July 3, when he yielded three earned runs across six innings in a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres.
Despite the setback on the mound, he remains active in the starting lineup as the designated hitter, posting a .
282 batting average with 22 home runs and 61 RBIs over 97 games.
The two-way star was scratched from a scheduled start against the Philadelphia Phillies after experiencing discomfort during bullpen sessions, leading him to skip the All-Star Game and receive an Orthovisc injection in his knee.
Uncertain Recovery Timeline
Manager Dave Roberts addressed the mounting uncertainty surrounding the pitcher's rebuilding schedule following weeks of limited throwing activity.
"Still no clarity on when Shohei Ohtani could throw another bullpen session," said Roberts.
Roberts noted that the extended break means Ohtani will require a gradual buildup before taking the mound for major league starts again.
"Dave Roberts acknowledged he's nearing the point now (almost four weeks removed from his last outing) where he's going to have to build back up as a pitcher before making full-length starts," reported Jack Harris of the California Post.
The club has consistently maintained a cautious approach regarding their superstar's recovery timeline to avoid secondary physical complications.
"Though it appears Ohtani is weeks from rejoining the rotation, there is an internal concern over his lingering left knee soreness.
Ohtani did not throw a bullpen Saturday at Citi Field, though that session was considered fluid.
The thought was that if Ohtani had recovered from his previous bullpen session Wednesday in Philadelphia, Saturday would be the best day for a second one.
But Ohtani did not feel he was at full strength, and the Dodgers won't push him to throw another one until he feels 100 percent.
Should Ohtani rush a comeback, he risks overcompensating, which could lead to other issues not as treatable as the team believes his knee is," reported Katie Woo of The Athletic.
Dodgers management remains confident that offensive duties will not aggravate the underlying joint irritation during this period.
"From his words, the hitting, the running, as he has done the last couple nights, doesn't affect him," said Roberts.
"I can only go by what he and the training staff are telling me.
So, unless I hear otherwise, that hitting compromises his health, then I'm going to keep putting him in the lineup."
Roberts reiterated that while missing mound starts is disappointing, the primary target remains full physical health for the postseason push.
"Not having him make these last two starts is a bummer for everyone—for him, especially," said Roberts.
"Offensively, he has been really good. I think he could be better, but he is still an MVP."
The manager further elaborated on the long-term plan regarding the precautionary hold on Ohtani's pitching duties.
"Where we’re at right now, how we’re proceeding, I would say that it’s going to be some time.
I’d say that it’s not going to be a day-to-day thing," said Roberts.
Roberts emphasized that the team's strong divisional standing grants them leeway in managing player availability without unnecessary risk.
"Honestly, a lot of it is where we’re at and how we’ve put ourselves in a good spot," said Roberts.
"Could he probably do it? Sure.
But right now, the benefits just [don’t] seem to outweigh the cost at this time of the season.
So I think we still have plenty of time to get him to a good spot to then pitch."
Before the current shutdown, Ohtani compiled an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts across 85.2 innings in 14 starts.
The Dodgers expect rotation reinforcements soon, with Blake Snell slated for an August return alongside Tyler Glasnow later in the regular season.
