Shohei Ohtani, the two-way phenom for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has been sidelined from pitching since July 3 due to nagging left knee irritation, and it sounds like he won’t be back on the mound anytime soon. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts isn’t messing around with this injury, making it crystal clear that patience is the name of the game.
No Quick Fix for Ohtani’s Arm
Roberts shut down any talk of Ohtani rejoining the rotation next week with a bluntness that leaves no room for doubt. “I feel very good that it won’t be next week,” Roberts told reporters before Friday’s 4-2 win over the Mets. He gets it, though, acknowledging that every player just wants to get back out there and contribute. But Roberts is playing the long game here, emphasizing that the focus isn’t July, it’s October. The Dodgers have already poured a ton of time into getting Ohtani back to full health, so they’re absolutely not going to rush anything. That’s the kind of strategic thinking you gotta respect when your star player is dealing with an injury like this. It’s all about making sure he’s 100% when it truly matters.
Still a Beast at the Plate, But Pitching Return Remains Hazy
Good news for Dodgers fans: Ohtani’s left knee irritation isn’t holding him back one bit in the batter’s box. He’s still a fixture at the top of their lineup, absolutely mashing the ball. This season, the dude is hitting a sweet .286 with 22 dingers, 61 RBI, and a .920 OPS. Those are MVP numbers, no doubt. Before the knee issues flared up, he was lights out on the mound too, sporting an 8-2 record with a ridiculous 1.79 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP over 14 starts. What a machine!
So, when can we expect to see that pitching magic again? Well, it’s still pretty up in the air. Roberts mentioned last weekend that it would be “some time” until Ohtani makes another start. He did throw about 30 pitches off a mound on Wednesday and is slated for another bullpen session on Saturday, according to the Associated Press. It’s progress, sure, but a full return to the rotation? That’s the million-dollar question heading into the weekend.
The lack of a firm timeline means everyone’s waiting on pins and needles. We’ll be keeping a close eye on those bullpen sessions and any updates from Roberts, because until Ohtani is back on the bump, that “October” goal still feels a ways off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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