Ohtani Pitching Status 'Unknown' as Dodgers Sidelined Two-Way Star with Knee Issue
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Shohei Ohtani will miss his Wednesday start and remains a one-way player indefinitely due to a left knee injury. Ohtani will continue to bat leadoff as he manages the discomfort, which only impacts his mechanics on the mound.
Mound Duty Halted The Los Angeles Dodgers have officially hit the brakes on the pitching half of the Shohei Ohtani experience. On Sunday, manager Dave Roberts announced that the Japanese superstar will miss his next scheduled start this coming Wednesday due to persistent issues with his left knee. While Ohtani has been a force on the mound this season, posting a stellar 1.79 ERA over 85.2 innings, the team is prioritizing his long-term health as they look toward a deep October run. "It's going to be some time, and I'd say that it's not going to be a day-to-day thing," Roberts told reporters regarding Ohtani's return to the rotation. "As he said, as we feel, it's the pitching and the torque on landing on that leg. That kind of gets it upset."
Offensive Impact Remains Fortunately for the first-place Dodgers, the injury does not appear to hamper Ohtani's ability to swing the bat. He remained in the leadoff spot for Sunday's game, and the team does not currently have plans to place him on the injured list. Ohtani is currently slashing .289/.400/.543 with 22 home runs, providing the high-octane production that has propelled Los Angeles to a league-leading 62 wins and a commanding 12-game lead in the NL West. The decision to transition Ohtani to a "one-way player" for the immediate future allows the training staff to manage the stress on his landing leg. While the Dodgers' rotation takes a hit without their ace, the depth of the roster—and the cushion in the standings—provides the luxury of caution. Fans will have to wait for further evaluations to see if the two-time MVP can reclaim his dual-threat status before the regular season concludes.