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Ohtani (knee) will serve as the designated hitter and bat leadoff Friday against the Red Sox.
Ohtani sat out Thursday's contest to give his inflamed left knee a chance to heal, but he now seems to be feeling well enough to play in Friday's series opener. The two-way star hasn't appeared on the mound since July 3 because of his knee but hasn't been impacted much as a hitter, slashing .265/.326/.518 with five homers, 15 RBI and eight runs scored across 92 plate appearances in July.
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Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Set to return to lineup Friday
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Manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that he expects Ohtani (knee) to return to the lineup as the designated hitter and leadoff batter in Friday's series opener versus the Red Sox, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Ohtani was held out of the starting nine Thursday while tending to soreness in his inflamed left knee, an injury that initially forced him out of a June 11 game. The two-way phenom hasn't made an appearance as a pitcher since July 3 because of the knee issue and, to a lesser extent, a right biceps injury, is still presenting some lingering discomfort when he gets on the mound. Ohtani has continued to serve as the Dodgers' everyday DH and has been performing well at the plate in spite of the knee issue, producing a .265/.326/.518 slash line with five home runs, 15 RBI and eight runs in 21 July games. However, he hasn't attempted a stolen base in July, and his contributions in the running game could remain limited over the final two months of the season.
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Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Omitted from lineup Thursday
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Ohtani is not in the lineup Thursday versus the Mariners, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Ohtani has appeared in all 11 games as a hitter since the All-Star break despite ongoing soreness in his right biceps and inflammation in his left knee. The issues have caused the superstar to put a pause on pitching, and sitting Thursday is likely just a day for him to rest up. As he sits, Teoscar Hernandez is starting as the designated hitter while Enrique Hernandez is inserted in left field.
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Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Sitting due to knee soreness
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Ohtani is not in the starting lineup Thursday against Seattle as a result of left knee soreness, Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Ohtani has been dealing with an ongoing knee issue for over a month, and the Dodgers decided to give their superstar a day off. Manager Dave Roberts is "very confident" that the 32-year-old will be back in the lineup for Friday's series opener at home versus Boston.
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Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Biceps issue downplayed
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President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman reiterated Wednesday that the Dodgers expect Ohtani to pitch again this season, with Friedman noting that the two-way player's right biceps soreness is a lesser concern than his inflamed left knee, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. "If it weren't for the knee, [Ohtani] would be pitching right now," Friedman said.
Per David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports, Ohtani is throwing plyometric balls to limit the force on his left knee, after the Dodgers decided to postpone his scheduled bullpen session over the weekend. The Dodgers are confident that the four-time MVP will start playing catch again soon, which would put him on track to be ready to pitch by season's end. Ohtani hasn't made a start as a pitcher since July 3 but has continued to handle an everyday role at designated hitter while he recovers from the knee issue.
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Starring role on offense in loss
Rotowire
Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a double, a walk and three total RBI in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to the Mariners.
Ohtani had been a little quiet lately, going nine games without a homer after the All-Star break. He changed that tune early Tuesday with a solo shot off Luis Castillo to lead off the Dodgers' half of the first inning. Ohtani is now batting .286 with a .924 OPS, 23 homers, 64 RBI, 67 runs scored, 20 doubles, two triples and six stolen bases over 102 contests. He's still battling a knee injury that is keeping him off the mound, and it's safe to assume he won't be pushing too hard with speed while the knee is a concern.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Ohtani (knee) "kicked the can" on his scheduled bullpen session Saturday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.
With Ohtani's knee still not feeling 100 percent after first throwing out of the bullpen Wednesday, the 31-year-old decided to cancel his slated bullpen session Saturday. Manager Dave Roberts is still confident that Ohtani will pitch again this season. Despite his knee problems, Ohtani will continue to serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter.
Ohtani (knee) threw a bullpen session Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Ohtani threw 31 pitches in the session and used his entire repertoire. It's the first time he's thrown off the mound since having his left knee drained and treated with a cortisone shot over the All-Star break. The next step for Ohtani isn't clear, but it's expected to be a few weeks before he's ready to make a start on the mound. Ohtani will continue serving as the Dodgers' designated hitter.
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Could throw off mound this weekend
Rotowire
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Ohtani (knee) could throw a bullpen session as soon as this weekend, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Ohtani has not made a start on the mound since July 3 as he deals with nagging irritation in his left knee. He had the knee drained and was given a cortisone shot over the All-Star break but felt more soreness while playing catch this past weekend. Ohtani played catch again Monday and might be ready to throw off a mound in a few days, but it will be multiple weeks before he's ready to start a game on the bump for the Dodgers. The knee issue has not kept Ohtani from designated hitter duties, as he will make an 11th straight start Monday in Philadelphia.
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Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Unlikely to pitch soon
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Manager Dave Roberts said that "it's going to be some time" before Ohtani retakes the mound for the Dodgers, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
The two-way superstar was initially expected to make his first start on the mound after the All-Star break Wednesday in Philadelphia, but that plan was scrapped after he felt discomfort in his left knee while playing catch this weekend. Ohtani will continue to serve as Los Angeles' primary designated hitter, however, since the injury presents more problems while pitching due to the "torque of landing on that leg," per Roberts. Ohtani seems unlikely to pitch for at least the next couple weeks but is without an official timeline for his return to the bump.
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Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Not starting Wednesday
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Ohtani (knee) will not start this upcoming Wednesday against Philadelphia, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.
Ohtani's second-half pitching debut will have to wait a little longer, as the Dodgers want to be cautious and give his knee some more time to heal. Manager Dave Roberts expects Ohtani to return to the mound at some point this season but admitted Sunday that it is "going to be some time" before the two-way star is pitching again, per Harris. Despite his knee problems, the 31-year-old will continue to handle designated hitter duties, and he will make his ninth consecutive start Sunday against the Yankees.
