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Ohtani’s Knee Setback Forces Dodgers to Hit Pause on His Pitching

Alex Neier
Ohtani celebrating on the field

Shohei Ohtani is stepping away from the Dodgers rotation indefinitely, a decision that reflects both the seriousness of his left knee irritation and the organization’s choice to prioritize long-term stability. Manager Dave Roberts said the club does not expect Ohtani back on the mound for some time, and there is no target date for his next start.

Ohtani has not pitched since July 3. The discomfort has not eased enough for him to resume normal throwing. He received a lubricant injection before the All-Star break, but the irritation continues when he lands on his left leg, which absorbs the most torque in his delivery.

Ohtani’s Knee Still Not Responding

Jul 12, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) receives his All-Star game jerseys before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images
Jul 12, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) receives his All-Star game jerseys before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images

The Dodgers originally planned for him to pitch Wednesday in Philadelphia. That plan changed after he tried light throwing over the weekend and still felt the same knee discomfort. Roberts shut down any bullpen work and confirmed the team will wait until Ohtani feels fully stable.

The knee issue affects only his pitching mechanics. It does not impact his swing, and the Dodgers will keep him in the lineup as their leadoff designated hitter. Roberts told reporters he can hit without restriction.

Why the Dodgers Can Slow Play This

Los Angeles holds a comfortable lead in the NL West, which gives the club room to be cautious. He has already thrown 85 and two-thirds innings this season. That is more than he logged last year after returning from Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers are not interested in pushing him through a workload that risks a setback.

The team will maintain its six-man rotation and cover Ohtani’s spot with bullpen games or spot starters. Roberts said Ohtani could pitch if absolutely necessary, but the Dodgers do not see value in forcing the issue. With Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell still working back from injuries, the front office may explore adding another starter before the August 3 trade deadline.

Ohtani Still Dominant at the Plate

Even with the pitching pause, Ohtani remains one of baseball’s most dangerous hitters. He is batting .289 with 22 home runs, 53 RBI and a .943 OPS. His offensive production keeps him firmly in the MVP conversation. The knee irritation has not affected his rhythm at the plate

Alex Neier is a journalist who has been writing about sports for almost three years. He mainly writes about MLB, Basketball, and College Sports but contributes on other sports from time to time. Alex previously wrote for Fansided and Last Word On Sports