The Los Angeles Dodgers plan to carefully manage Shohei Ohtani's workload in the second half of the season following treatment for a persistent left knee issue. Manager Dave Roberts indicated that Ohtani is targeted to make his next pitching start on Wednesday in Philadelphia.
Ohtani received a lubricant injection last Sunday to address discomfort and swelling in his knee, an issue that has affected him since June 10. The knee, which required surgery in 2019, had not returned to full strength and contributed to a dip in his pitching performance. His ERA in his first 10 starts was 0.74, compared to 4.38 in his four outings since the discomfort began.
Despite the knee problem not impacting his hitting, the team and Ohtani agreed he would skip the All-Star Game and his final scheduled start of the first half of the season to focus on recovery. He has been using a knee sleeve in the clubhouse.
Roberts stated that Ohtani will throw a bullpen session in the coming days to ensure he is ready for his return to two-way duties. The Dodgers are likely to schedule his pitching starts ahead of off-days or allow him to rest as the designated hitter the day after pitching. "I think we are certainly more prepared to back off of the workload, if it calls for it," Roberts said, acknowledging Ohtani's desire to play as much as possible.
The Dodgers' primary goal is to have Ohtani and the rest of the roster healthy for the postseason. Ohtani has been a significant contributor, boasting a .953 OPS as a hitter and a 1.79 ERA as a pitcher entering Friday, making the protection of his knee a top priority for the remainder of the year.