Shohei Ohtani Shut Down Indefinitely Due to Worsening Knee Irritation
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will miss his scheduled start against the Philadelphia Phillies and will not pitch indefinitely due to worsening irritation in his left knee, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. ESPN’s Jorge Castillo reported that Roberts made the announcement on Sunday, noting the issue has not gotten better
and that the shutdown aims to give us the best chance to be out of the woods entirely.
Ohtani, who has not pitched since a July 3 win over the San Diego Padres, will throw off the mound sometime later this week,
but his return date remains unspecified.
Roberts emphasized the decision was made after Ohtani informed the Dodgers’ training staff that his knee was not progressing as expected before a scheduled bullpen session. Kind of where we're at, right now, how we're proceeding, I would say that it's going to be some time,
Roberts said, adding that the situation is not going to be a day-to-day thing.
Despite the indefinite shutdown, Ohtani will continue as the team’s designated hitter, with Roberts clarifying that the knee issue only arises when he pitches. “When he does swing the bat, it’s the back knee versus the land knee where you’re kind of driving off of it to create torque when you pitch. So there is no feeling of any sensation [when he hits] or any reason why we feel like we’ve got to stop hitting,” Roberts explained.
Medical Treatment and Absence from All-Star Game
Ohtani’s absence from the mound has already impacted his season statistics. As of the latest update, he has compiled an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA in 85.2 innings, according to Yahoo Sports. However, his workload lags behind the league’s top starters, raising questions about his ability to remain a legitimate contender for the National League Cy Young Award. MLB insider Ken Rosenthal highlighted the challenge, noting that Ohtani is “way behind” even now and that the fewest innings pitched by a Cy Young winner in a full season was 167 by Corbin Burnes in 2021.
Implications for Ohtani’s Season and Awards Chances
With Ohtani sidelined, his prospects for winning his first Cy Young Award appear slim. Rosenthal, citing Roberts’ acknowledgment of Ohtani’s goal to secure the honor, stated, It seemed to be a clear goal. Dave Roberts acknowledged that it was a clear goal, and now it's not going to happen.
The Dodgers’ star, who has also been a key contributor at the plate, faces a dual challenge: his absence from the mound could weaken his National League MVP case, as his dual-role impact is diminished.
Roberts addressed the trade-off between risk and reward, stating that while Ohtani could theoretically pitch through the injury, the benefits just don’t seem to outweigh the cost at this time of the season.
We still have plenty of time to get him to a good spot,
Roberts said, though he did not elaborate on the team’s strategy for managing his recovery.
Team Strategy and Future Plans
Sources: Bleacherreport, ESPN.
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