Overview
- The Dodgers announced Sunday that Ohtani will not make his next scheduled start and has been taken out of the rotation for some time while his left knee is monitored.
- Ohtani received a lubricant injection during the All‑Star break and felt renewed discomfort while playing catch, so the team skipped a bullpen test rather than risk aggravating the knee.
- He will remain in the lineup as the designated hitter because the knee does not bother him when batting, and the club says it expects him to pitch again this season but gives no firm timetable.
- Los Angeles has shifted rotation plans and will cover Ohtani’s missed turns with moves such as sliding Emmet Sheehan and using bullpen or spot starts, a flexibility driven by the Dodgers’ large division lead.
- Ohtani has been one of MLB’s best pitchers this year with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts and has prior kneecap surgery history, so his landing‑leg irritation raises uncertainty about October rotation roles and could influence trade‑deadline decisions.