Key facts
- Ohtani sidelined from pitching since early July with left knee and bicep issues
- Latest bullpen session resulted in continued knee discomfort and abbreviated work
- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Ohtani is not 100% healthy
- If Ohtani pitches Sunday vs. Tigers, likely limited to first inning only
- Ohtani posted 1.79 ERA before stopping pitching this season
The situation and latest update
Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way star, remains sidelined from pitching since early July due to a left knee issue and a bicep problem. According to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, Ohtani continued to experience discomfort in his left knee during his most recent bullpen session, casting doubt on his planned return to the Dodgers’ starting rotation on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers.
Status and prospects for return
The Dodgers have not ruled out Ohtani making a Sunday start, but expectations have been significantly tempered. Manager Dave Roberts stated that Ohtani is not operating at full health. The latest bullpen session did not produce the progress the team had been hoping for, as his knee problems persisted and forced an abbreviated workout. If Ohtani does pitch Sunday, it is more likely than not that his appearance will be limited to only the first inning, allowing him to ease back into pitching without a full workload.
Recent performance and context
Before he stopped pitching this season, Ohtani had compiled a 1.79 ERA. Despite being unable to pitch, he has remained in the Dodgers’ lineup and continued to produce offensively. The team is taking a cautious approach given that the postseason begins in approximately one month, and a premature return or re-injury could sideline his bat entirely.
Sources
- Sporting News
- Yahoo Sports — GameThread: Detroit Tigers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, 1:10 p.m. · Dodgers at Tigers game chat
Featured photo: Kent Jagodzinski via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)