Shohei Ohtani is back in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup, kicking off the second half after missing the 2026 All-Star Game due to some serious knee drama. The Dodgers star had “continued irritation in his left knee,” leading to what the team called “interventions on his knee to put him in the best position for the second half of the season.” Turns out, those “interventions” were a little more specific than initially reported, and honestly, it’s got us scratching our heads a bit.
The “Lubricant” Knee Fix and Lineup Return
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spilled the beans to reporters on Friday, clarifying what went down with Ohtani’s knee. Forget the drainage talk; Roberts confirmed Ohtani received *only* a “lubricant” injection in that left knee, according to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya. What exactly does that mean for a guy who’s not just hitting bombs but dealing on the mound? We’re all wondering. Right now, Ohtani is slotted into his usual leadoff spot as designated hitter for the Dodgers, facing off against the Yankees on Friday. It’s good to see him back at the plate, but the pitching situation is a bit more up in the air.
Elite Pitching Despite the Kneecap News
While Ohtani’s batting, getting him back on the mound is a different story. Roberts expects Ohtani will pitch next on Wednesday, when the Dodgers play the Philadelphia Phillies. The Dodgers’ priority here is crystal clear: Ohtani’s health for the postseason, even if it means limiting his mound time during the regular season. Why? Because the guy is absolutely dealing. He’s putting up a career-best season as a pitcher so far this year, rocking a ridiculous 1.79 ERA through 14 starts. That kind of number would rank second in all of MLB, just behind Jacob Misiorowski, if Ohtani had enough innings to officially qualify for the ERA title. Seriously, he’s still the overwhelming favorite to snag his fifth MVP award in six seasons. Wild.
So, Ohtani’s got that “lubricant” injection in his knee, but he’s out there hitting for the Dodgers tonight, with a pitching return against the Phillies on Wednesday. The stakes are huge: the Dodgers need him healthy and performing if they want to make a real run for it. Keep an eye on that ERA, because even with the knee situation, Ohtani is still showing why he’s one of the game’s best.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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