Shohei Ohtani's upcoming pitching start with the Los Angeles Dodgers has been postponed by two days. He is now scheduled to pitch on Friday in Los Angeles against the San Diego Padres, rather than on Wednesday for the series finale against the Oakland Athletics.
The adjustment to the schedule is attributed to Ohtani's ongoing knee injury, which manager Dave Roberts has stated is not yet at full strength. The Dodgers are also navigating a demanding stretch of 13 consecutive days with scheduled games.
Ohtani's last pitching appearance was last Wednesday in Minnesota, where he allowed three runs (two earned) over six innings. He overcame some initial miscommunication with catcher Dalton Rushing during that outing.
With Ohtani's start delayed, the Dodgers may opt for a bullpen game to cover the originally scheduled pitching duties. The team recently reinforced its relief pitching staff by recalling right-hander Wyatt Mills from triple-A Oklahoma City. Jonathan Hernández was designated for assignment after pitching multiple innings in Monday's victory over the Athletics.
Los Angeles has generally managed to avoid bullpen games this season by utilizing a consistent six-man rotation. This approach has been maintained despite injuries to other pitchers, including Blake Snell, who recently threw his second bullpen session after elbow surgery in May, and Tyler Glasnow, who is progressing in his recovery from back spasms.
The Dodgers do not have a readily available minor league option for a spot start, as top pitching prospect River Ryan is currently sidelined with a hamstring issue for the second time this year.