TakeTack 见势

Your take on what's trending.

中文
Back to trends

Sports

Ohtani's Knee Soreness Sidelines Him Again, Clouds Dodgers' Deadline Plans

Shohei Ohtani was held out of the Dodgers' lineup Thursday after reporting soreness in his left knee, an injury that has kept him from pitching since July 3. The setback comes as the trade deadline approaches, raising questions about Los Angeles's October plans despite the team downplaying health concerns.

TakeTack Desk 3 hr ago AI-assisted · Human reviewed
Ohtani's Knee Soreness Sidelines Him Again, Clouds Dodgers' Deadline Plans

Ohtani's Knee Soreness Sidelines Him Again, Clouds Dodgers' Deadline Plans

The short answer

Shohei Ohtani is dealing with a troublesome left knee that has not allowed him to pitch since July 3. During the All-Star break, he had an MRI and received an injection of Orthovisc, a gel the Dodgers call a 'lubricant' for the knee. But after going 2-for-3 in Wednesday's win over the Mariners, he reported further soreness, leading manager Dave Roberts to keep him out of Thursday's lineup. Roberts said the trainer suggested rest, and the organization made the decision even though Ohtani wanted to play. The team is unlikely to put Ohtani on the 10-day injured list, according to a source, though Roberts said 'nothing should be off the table.' MLB.com later reported Ohtani returned to the lineup for the Dodgers' opener against the Red Sox, but his health remains a major storyline heading into the trade deadline and postseason.

Why it's trending

Search interest spiked because Ohtani's injury status directly affects the Dodgers' trade deadline strategy and their hopes for a third straight title. News that he was out of the lineup against the Mariners, combined with The Athletic's report of ongoing knee soreness, triggered fresh concern among fans and analysts just as the July 31 deadline arrived.

Shohei Ohtani was absent from the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Seattle Mariners after reporting further soreness in his left knee, according to The Athletic. The move came just one day after Ohtani went 2-for-3 in a 4-2 win, and it adds a new layer of uncertainty to a team already preparing for a frenetic trade deadline weekend.

The Athletic reports that Ohtani told the training staff about the soreness after Wednesday night's game. Manager Dave Roberts explained, 'I just talked to the trainer, and he said maybe tonight might be a good day for him to be down.' Roberts added that Ohtani wanted to play, but the organization took the decision out of his hands. This aligns with Yahoo Sports' headline noting Ohtani was out 'amid ongoing injuries,' while MLB.com later reported he returned to the lineup for the next series opener against the Red Sox, indicating the move was precautionary.

Ohtani's knee has been a lingering issue since July 3, when he last pitched. The Athletic notes he had an MRI and received an Orthovisc injection during the All-Star break, and while Roberts said the knee has shown 'marked' improvement, a source close to the situation said an IL stint is unlikely for both his knee and right biceps. Roberts stressed, 'Nothing should be off the table, and nothing is set in stone.' The Dodgers have publicly downplayed Ohtani's health as a factor in their deadline plans, though The Athletic suggests this could be posturing.

The bigger question is how Ohtani's health shapes the Dodgers' moves before the trade deadline. With the team already missing Ohtani on the mound and now managing his knee on a day-to-day basis, any additional setback could force front-office adjustments. Roberts called this 'an ongoing conversation,' and given Ohtani's own uncertainty about reaching 100 percent, the coming days will be critical for the reigning champions' October outlook.

Timeline

  1. Ohtani pitches last; knee issue emerges

    The Athletic reports Ohtani has been kept from pitching since July 3 due to his troublesome left knee.

  2. MRI and injection

    Ohtani had an MRI and received an Orthovisc injection, described as a 'lubricant' for the knee, according to The Athletic.

  3. Ohtani plays vs. Mariners, later reports soreness

    Ohtani went 2-for-3 in a 4-2 win over Seattle but told the training staff of further knee soreness afterward, per The Athletic.

  4. Ohtani out of lineup

    Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the trainer recommended rest; Ohtani was not in the starting lineup for the series finale vs. Mariners, as reported by The Athletic and Yahoo Sports.

  5. Ohtani returns to lineup vs. Red Sox

    MLB.com reported Ohtani returned to the lineup for the Dodgers' opener against the Boston Red Sox, indicating the prior day was likely precautionary.

Questions people ask

What is the status of Shohei Ohtani's knee?

Ohtani has been dealing with left knee soreness since early July, which has kept him from pitching since July 3. He received an Orthovix injection during the All-Star break, but reported further soreness after Wednesday's game and was held out Thursday, per The Athletic.

Will Ohtani go on the injured list?

A source told The Athletic it is unlikely the Dodgers will place Ohtani on the 10-day IL to rest his knee and right biceps. Manager Dave Roberts said 'nothing should be off the table,' but the team appears to be managing it day-to-day.

How does this affect the Dodgers' trade deadline plans?

The Dodgers have downplayed Ohtani's health as a factor in deadline decisions, according to The Athletic. However, his ongoing knee issues could influence how aggressively they pursue pitching help, especially with Ohtani unable to pitch since July 3.

Join the conversation 0

Comments are reviewed before publishing.