Dave Roberts Provides New Shohei Ohtani Injury Update After Lineup Absence

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is out of the lineup on Thursday, July 30th vs. the Seattle Mariners, as he manages his two injuries.

As a result of his two-way work (mainly his pitching), Ohtani is dealing with left knee discomfort and biceps soreness, both injuries that have appeared more than once over the last month or so.

Manager Dave Roberts addressed the decision to sit Ohtani against the Mariners, citing treatment as a reason for the rest.

“The soreness of the knee. Yesterday went in there for treatment, it was best to give him a day,” Roberts said.

Jul 29, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after a pitch during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Roberts was appreciative of Ohtani’s honesty about his knee, especially since it is up to how the star feels.

“I appreciate the communication. I can’t read minds; for him to communicate that allows us to make the decision,” Roberts said.

If needed, Ohtani is available to pinch hit on Thursday, per Roberts, and the skipper is confident that the designated hitter will be back on Friday.

The Japanese star has admitted that his pitching was the main reason behind his pitching and hitting ailments.

However, that has not stopped Ohtani from trying to pitch. He did a bullpen session last week in Philadelphia, but he kicked the can down the road on his follow-up after experiencing some additional discomfort.

The Dodgers and Ohtani are focusing and prioritizing his hitting because of their pitching depth and their need for his bat more than his arm at this point in the season.

Dave Roberts has mentioned that Ohtani has been feeling better since his pitching break, especially after getting an injection in his left knee and time to recover.

The Dodgers will be giving Ohtani every chance to play when possible, as long as there is minimal risk of aggravation.

If the Dodgers could, they would likely rest Ohtani until the playoffs and then roll him out as a pitcher in the rotation.

However, things are more complicated than that. For a fully optimized version of Ohtani, he will likely need a notable buildup, alongside regular starts before the postseason, to get his timing and rhythm in sync.

Jul 28, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) looks on during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images

Simply icing him out until October is not feasible if they want the ace-level pitcher that Ohtani is at his apex.

Barring a big change in how things go, Ohtani will be pitching in the playoffs and will return at the latest in September if his progress continues, possibly even mid-August at the earliest.