Overview
- On Sunday, July 19, manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani will skip his next scheduled start and be taken out of the rotation for “some time” while the club evaluates his left‑knee irritation.
- The team will keep Ohtani in the lineup as the designated hitter because he reports no pain when hitting and has continued to produce offensively.
- Ohtani received a lubricant injection during the All‑Star break and did not test the knee with a bullpen after feeling discomfort during catch work, which prompted the precautionary pause.
- Los Angeles moved rotation spots and will rely on spot starts and bullpen coverage in the short term, and the club may consider adding starting depth before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
- Ohtani has been an elite two‑way player this season with a roughly 1.79 ERA in 14 starts, so the Dodgers say they are prioritizing his long‑term availability for October while accepting short‑term pitching losses.