Overview
- Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Ohtani will not make his next scheduled start and that his return to the mound is likely to take multiple starts rather than be handled day to day.
- Ohtani has continued to hit and felt no pain while batting, so the Dodgers will keep him in the lineup as the designated hitter while monitoring his recovery.
- The left knee problem first flared in mid‑June, Ohtani last pitched on July 3, and he received a lubricant injection during the All‑Star break before catch play over the weekend showed lingering irritation.
- Los Angeles shifted Emmet Sheehan into a start and plans bullpen games to cover the rotation while evaluating whether to add a starter before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
- Ohtani has been an elite two‑way player this season with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts, and the Dodgers’ large division lead gives them flexibility to limit his workload to protect his long‑term value for October.