Shohei Ohtani Scratched from Dodgers Lineup Due to Left Knee Soreness

Shohei Ohtani was absent from the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup on Thursday as lingering left knee soreness prompted a precautionary benching.

Shohei Ohtani was absent from the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup on Thursday due to lingering soreness in his left knee. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts categorized the decision as precautionary to prevent the irritation from escalating into a more significant issue. Ohtani, 32, has not pitched in a game since July 3, a start where he threw a season-high 110 pitches and tweaked his right biceps on a swing. The designated hitter reached base seven times over the previous two nights, a workload Roberts cited as a potential contributor to the current physical setback.

Medical History and Injections

The left knee serves as Ohtani’s landing leg during his pitching motion. Following the Dodgers' final game before the All-Star break, the two-way star received a lubricant injection in the joint and took four days off to seek relief. Despite these measures, the team skipped his scheduled start in Philadelphia on July 22. During a bullpen session that same day, Ohtani further aggravated the knee and experienced a flare-up of his earlier biceps injury, leading to a total cessation of his throwing program.

Timeline for Return to Play

Roberts expressed expectations for Ohtani to return to the batting order on Friday. While he has not pitched for nearly a month, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman stated on Wednesday that he remains confident the player will pitch again during the 2026 season. The training staff hopes Ohtani can begin playing catch as early as this weekend. Doctors have informed the athlete that the knee will not reach full recovery until he undergoes rest during the upcoming offseason, making current management the primary goal for the Los Angeles medical team.

Roster Status and Performance Metrics

Los Angeles is currently resisting placing Ohtani on the injured list. Roberts noted that the player's condition has improved markedly over the last few weeks and emphasized that Ohtani feels capable of performing despite not being at 100 percent health. The manager highlighted the importance of communication between the player and the training staff in determining daily availability. Ohtani’s value to the team remains a central factor in the decision to keep him active rather than shutting him down entirely for the remainder of the year.

Precautionary Measures in Los Angeles

The irritation occurring while Ohtani is not pitching represents a shift in the injury's behavior, as previous reports indicated the knee only caused issues during his pitching mechanics. Roberts clarified that no single incident triggered the Thursday absence, attributing it instead to the cumulative physical toll of being on the basepaths. The Dodgers continue to monitor the situation to ensure the player is available for the most critical portions of the season ahead.