Shohei Ohtani: Concerns About His Knee (and It’s Unclear When He’ll Be Able to Pitch)

In the past, Shohei Ohtani got fans used to seeing him pitch and hit on a regular basis. Everyone wondered how he did it.

But in 2026, at ages 31 and 32, it feels like he's hitting a wall. A small wall, but a wall nonetheless.

More often than not, Dave Roberts prevented him from pitching and hitting on the same day. He was given days off. He was pulled from games.

But despite all that, he's still delivering strong performances.

That said, his recent knee issues (he underwent procedures during the All-Star break) are causing a stir. And not for the right reasons.

On that note, Dave Roberts announced that the Japanese player won't be pitching on Wednesday after all. He's expected to miss several starts.

The goal is to give the Japanese player time to recover.

It's worth noting that the pitcher isn't just being evaluated on a day-to-day basis; the Dodgers expect him to pitch again this year. That doesn't necessarily bode well.

The team can afford to be patient because the goal is to have Ohtani healthy for the playoffs. The regular season isn't the most important thing for the L.A. team.

It's a nice luxury to have.

By necessity, this continues to bring his future as a pitcher to the forefront. Will the Dodgers be able to keep him in both roles? Will he be forced to focus solely on hitting in the short term moving forward?

This is a situation to watch.

• Big outing by Paul Skenes.

• John Schneider wants a greater sense of urgency.

• Nate Pearson DFA.

• When will Carlos Rodón take on a heavier workload?

• Will Bo Bichette exercise his no-trade clause?

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