Baseball
Baseball
Ohtani Sidelined from Dodgers Lineup with Renewed Knee Soreness
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani was held out of the starting lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Seattle Mariners due to a recurrence of left knee soreness. This decision comes as Ohtani continues to manage a persistent knee issue that has kept him off the mound since early July.
Ohtani’s left knee inflammation first surfaced on June 11, and he has not pitched in a game since July 3. Despite this, he has consistently served as the Dodgers’ designated hitter. The renewed discomfort was reported by Ohtani during treatment, prompting the team’s training staff to recommend a day off. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged Ohtani’s transparency, stating it allowed him to make a decision in the player’s best interest.
The two-way talent also dealt with right biceps discomfort, which was revealed on Tuesday, further complicating his return to pitching. Ohtani’s impressive pitching record this season includes a 1.79 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over 14 starts, with 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings.
While the Dodgers remain optimistic about Ohtani’s availability for the postseason, the timeline for his return to pitching in the regular season remains uncertain. Roberts indicated hope for Ohtani to resume throwing and playing catch soon, possibly by the weekend or early next week. The team currently has no plans to shut him down from playing entirely, but the situation is under continuous evaluation.
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