Los Angeles Dodgers fans have been faced with a scare after the injury news to superstar Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani, 32, has been given the day off in the Dodgers’ game against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday. The designated hitter/starting pitcher is experiencing left knee inflammation and a right biceps injury.
Before Thursday’s game, manager Dave Roberts provided some more intel on Shohei Ohtani.
Roberts said that Ohtani wanted to play through the setbacks, but the final decision was for him to sit out. The Dodgers manager added that Ohtani is available coming off the bench for Los Angeles on Thursday. He is “confident” that he will return for the Dodgers on Friday.
Ohtani is still scheduled to ramp up as a pitcher “in the coming days,” wrote Nelson Espinal of Dodgers Nation.
More Information on Shohei Ohtani’s Pitching Shutdown
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is dealing with left knee inflammation and biceps soreness. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Shohei Ohtani has picked up injuries to both his left knee and biceps since making his last start on the mound for the Dodgers on July 3.
“My biceps (is) not 100 percent,” Ohtani said earlier this week. “Just similar issue with the knee. Do we consider pushing this? It is still July. So I think the conversation would be a little different if we’re in August or September.”
Ohtani threw a 31-pitch bullpen session on July 22. He was scheduled for another session on Aug. 1, but this idea was shut down because of the knee and biceps issues, said The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
The Dodgers have been without some of their top starters down the stretch. Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Shohei Ohtani have been absent from the rotation for an extended period of time.
However, this hasn’t stopped the momentum of Los Angeles. The Dodgers still carry the best record in baseball at 68-40 and carry an 11.5-game lead over the rest of the NL West.
Maybe resting its top pitching pieces for later in the season is in Dave Roberts’ best interest.
Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell Eye Returns to the Mound
GettyThe Los Angeles Dodgers are in the process of getting two key starters back from injuries in Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell. Glasnow is on the verge of beginning a rehab assignment while Snell completed a third game in his rehab stint on July 29. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Although the Dodgers have been dealing with injuries in the pitching rotation, multiple starters were given positive updates in recent days.
Tyler Glasnow, 32, is eyeing a return to the team. Glasnow, 32, has been sidelined since May 8 while dealing with lower back spasms.
A rehab assignment is the next checkpoint in his recovery process after throwing two innings during live batting practice on July 29. Glasnow reported no issues in the pitching session.
Blake Snell, 33, has been on the injured list since May 15. The two-time Cy Young Award winner underwent surgery to remove loose bodies in his throwing elbow.
Snell pitched in his third, and potentially final, rehab start on July 29. He threw four scoreless innings while striking out nine for Single-A Ontario.
Dodgers’ Dave Roberts Provides Shohei Ohtani Update Ahead of Absence vs. Mariners