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.
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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.
