Shohei Ohtani to Pitch but Not Hit in Dodgers’ Series Finale Amid Knee Inflammation

Ohtani to Take the Mound, But Not the Bat

Shohei Ohtani is slated to make his next pitching start for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays. This comes despite experiencing inflammation in his left knee, which caused him to miss one game as a hitter last Friday. While the team is confident in his ability to pitch, Ohtani will not be included in the batting lineup for the series finale.

Knee Inflammation and Mechanics

The inflammation in Ohtani’s left knee flared up following his start last Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he allowed a season-high four runs (three earned) over 6 2/3 innings. His ERA currently stands at a remarkable 1.06, leading all Major League pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched.

Ohtani and the Dodgers are still working to pinpoint the exact cause of the knee inflammation. However, Ohtani himself suspects that pitching mechanics, rather than hitting, may have contributed to the issue. “It’s actually hard to pinpoint at what moment this happened,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton over the weekend. “All I can really know for sure is that I think my mechanics weren’t quite great in terms of my pitching side, so I believe that had something to do with this.”

Road to Recovery and Bullpen Session

Following his start, Ohtani resumed playing catch on Saturday and noted that he didn’t feel completely normal. However, with a few days of rest and recovery, he felt well enough to prepare for his upcoming start. The swelling in his knee has since subsided.

On Tuesday, Ohtani completed a light bullpen session, a crucial step to test his knee’s readiness on the mound. Manager Dave Roberts indicated that the team will be closely monitoring Ohtani, as they would with any pitcher managing a minor ailment. “Anyone that has anything, kind of potential red flag, certainly will be watching more closely,” Roberts said. “But again, he wouldn’t start if we felt that we were going to put him in harm’s way.”

Competitive Drive and Proactive Management

Ohtani, known for his competitive spirit, prefers to be on the field contributing to his team whenever possible. Missing a start could also impact his pursuit of the NL Cy Young Award in what is shaping up to be a competitive race. Manager Roberts acknowledged the need to sometimes be proactive with Ohtani’s health, but in this instance, Ohtani’s progress has been positive.

“We’re certainly mindful that he wants to be out there, he wants to make his start,” Roberts stated. “But again, the catch play, how he feels, the swelling is completely dissipated. So those signs right there give us confidence that he’s going to be fine.”

Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|—|—|
| Player | Shohei Ohtani |
| Team | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| Opponent | Tampa Bay Rays |
| Status | Scheduled to pitch, will not hit |
| Reason | Left knee inflammation |
| Last Start | Allowed 4 runs (3 earned) in 6 2/3 innings vs. Pirates |
| ERA | 1.06 (leads MLB for pitchers with 50+ IP) |

This development is significant for NationalSportsWeb readers as it highlights the ongoing management of Shohei Ohtani’s unique two-way capabilities and his health. The decision to have him pitch but not hit underscores the delicate balance the Dodgers must strike to utilize his full potential while mitigating injury risks, a narrative that continues to captivate the sports world.

Source: MLB Official News RSS – https://www.mlb.com/news/shohei-ohtani-starts-series-finale-vs-rays

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