Shohei Ohtani Receives Knee Injection; Slated for Wednesday Start in Philadelphia

Shohei Ohtani underwent a lubricant injection in his left knee following Sunday's game against Arizona and returned to the lineup Friday as the designated hitter.

Shohei Ohtani returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers starting lineup Friday as the leadoff designated hitter against the New York Yankees after undergoing a lubricant injection in his left knee. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed the four-time MVP did not have fluid drained during the procedure, which took place following Sunday’s matchup against Arizona. Ohtani, who skipped Tuesday night's All-Star Game to recover, enters the second half of the season boasting a .293 batting average with 22 home runs and 58 RBIs. On the mound, the two-way standout holds an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA, recording 95 strikeouts across 85⅔ innings in 14 starts.

Ohtani Pitching Timeline and Knee Management

While Ohtani is not scheduled to pitch during the current weekend series, he is expected to make his next start on Wednesday at Philadelphia. His most recent appearance on the mound occurred July 3. To accommodate the recovery of his left knee, the Dodgers provided Ohtani with four days of total inactivity to allow the lubricant to settle. Roberts noted that the pitcher has been utilizing a more open landing stance to minimize torque on the joint. Despite the medical intervention, the team does not anticipate the 29-year-old will require surgery during the upcoming offseason. Ohtani is expected to perform a mound session within the next few days to evaluate the stability of his leg.

Roster Updates for Smith, Diaz, and Snell

Beyond the Shohei Ohtani injury news, the Dodgers face uncertainty regarding catcher Will Smith. The three-time All-Star has been sidelined since June 5 due to neck inflammation and has shown no recent improvement despite attempts to resume baseball activities. Smith is now mandated to undergo at least one week of complete rest. Meanwhile, closer Edwin Díaz was scheduled to make his third minor league rehab appearance on Friday, with another outing planned for Sunday. Díaz is recovering from an April 22 surgery performed to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. Left-hander Blake Snell is also on the comeback trail, with a scheduled start for Triple-A Oklahoma City this Saturday. Snell has been out since his May 9 season debut because of loose bodies in his pitching arm.

Pitching Staff Health and Workload Adjustments

Dave Roberts indicated a desire to provide Ohtani with a day of rest following his pitching starts whenever the schedule permits, even if a natural off day is not available. The manager emphasized that the physical demands of running, swinging, and pitching contribute to significant wear and tear on the athlete's body. In other pitching news, right-hander Tyler Glasnow has resumed throwing bullpen sessions. Glasnow has been unavailable since May 6 while dealing with lower back spasms. The club remains prepared to reduce Ohtani's workload if his knee condition necessitates it, though the player has expressed a strong desire to remain in the lineup consistently. The Dodgers aim to balance his high-volume usage as both a hitter and pitcher as they navigate the second half of the MLB season.