Dodgers reveal more keeping Ohtani off the mound now
The Dodgers have shut Shohei Ohtani down from pitching after revealing a right biceps issue layered on lingering left knee soreness. Manager Dave Roberts said compensating for the knee stressed Ohtani's arm. There is no firm return timeline, though the club still expects him to pitch again this season if both areas improve.
Key Takeaways
- Ohtani is dealing with left knee soreness and a right biceps issue that first flared when he left his July 3 start.
- He has not pitched off a mound since a 30-pitch bullpen on July 22, and Los Angeles has no set return date.
- Andrew Friedman says the biceps has improved and the knee is the main barrier; he expects catch play relatively soon.
- Ohtani remains in the lineup as DH; neither injury is said to affect swinging or running.
- Friedman does not see the situation as an acute trade-deadline pitching need, though star arms remain on the radar.
What injuries are keeping Ohtani from pitching for the Dodgers?
According to MLB.com, Ohtani has been managing lingering left knee soreness that forced him to miss his final start before the All-Star break and resurfaced after last week's bullpen.
Roberts revealed Tuesday that Ohtani has also felt right biceps discomfort dating to his July 3 outing against the Padres. The manager said efforts to protect the knee placed unintended stress on Ohtani's upper half, so the Dodgers stopped throwing work to protect both areas.
Ohtani told reporters through interpreter Will Ireton that neither the knee nor biceps is at 100 percent, describing the arm concern as a similar issue to the knee.
Will Ohtani pitch again for the Dodgers this season?
There is currently no timeline. Roberts said the club will not push him until he feels fully ready after what he called a bit of regression in that last bullpen.
The Dodgers have not ruled him out for October. Roberts said it is highly unlikely they would scrap pitching for the year if the knee and arm keep improving.
On SportsNetLA, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman struck a clearer note: if not for the knee, Ohtani would be making his regular turn. Friedman said the biceps "got better," the issues are not structural, and Ohtani has begun building up with plyo balls, with catch play expected relatively soon.
Does this change the Dodgers' trade deadline plans?
Friedman said the uncertainty does not create an acute need for a starter ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline. Still, he reiterated that when a star-level pitcher is available, Los Angeles will participate in conversations—comments that keep names like Tarik Skubal in the mix.
For fans tracking every Dodgers update across broadcasts and streaming windows, follow our Streaming & TV Alerts hub. Offensively, Ohtani remains central: he homered Tuesday and continues to DH, with Roberts stressing the club needs him in the lineup while the pitching ramp waits on a healthier knee.