Overview
- The Dodgers scratched Ohtani from a scheduled start and announced he will not travel to the All‑Star Game so his left knee can be drained and may receive a pain‑relieving injection during the midseason break.
- Ohtani says the irritation affects his pitching more than his hitting and suggested his delivery and a prior 2019 kneecap surgery could be linked to the recurring swelling.
- Manager Dave Roberts described the move as proactive and said the club expects Ohtani’s planned pitching schedule and workload to remain unchanged after the procedures.
- Despite the knee issue, Ohtani continued to produce at the plate, hitting a leadoff home run in the most recent game, while the Dodgers used seven relievers in the scratched start and lost that opener.
- The short‑term interventions are aimed at reducing fluid and pain to let Ohtani throw on his regular timeline, a choice made to protect his availability for the Dodgers’ postseason push.