Shohei Ohtani, the two-way superstar, was back in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup on Friday, July 17, taking his familiar spot as the leadoff hitter. This wasn’t just any game, either, it was the start of a road series against the New York Yankees, a high-stakes rematch of the 2024 World Series. Talk about jumping right back into the fire!
What’s Up With That Knee?
So, why was there even a question about Ohtani’s return? Well, before the MLB All-Star break, Ohtani got pulled from a scheduled pitching start. The culprit? Inflammation and irritation in his left knee. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Ohtani received a lubricant injection in the knee. The good news? It wasn’t drained. The hope is this injection provides much-needed relief for the discomfort. That knee issue was serious enough that even though Ohtani was the league’s leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game, he had to withdraw due to the pain. It even messed with his pitching mechanics, which is a scary thought for any fan of his incredible arm. Roberts made it clear the team’s watching him close this week, and they’re gonna be super careful with his workload for the second half of the season.
Remembering The Magic, Looking Ahead
Honestly, who could blame them for being cautious with a talent like Ohtani? Just earlier this week, he snagged an ESPY for Best Single-Game Performance. We’re talking about a guy who, in Game 4 of the 2025 National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, absolutely went off. He blasted three home runs, pitched six scoreless innings, and struck out 10 batters. That’s not just a good game, that’s legendary stuff! It shows you exactly why the Dodgers are treating his knee with kid gloves. So, what’s next after this big return? Ohtani and the Dodgers wrap up their series against the Yankees on Saturday and Sunday. After that, they immediately dive into a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies. And for Ohtani’s pitching arm? Roberts is holding off on finalizing his next start until they see how he feels this week, but it’s tentatively penciled in for Wednesday, July 22. Every eye will be on that knee, and on that tentatively scheduled start.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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